"The Free Nutritional Meals program is not just a program to provide nutritious food for our children, but it is also a way to build a new economy at the grassroots level throughout Indonesia," he remarked.
Abdurrahman made the statement on the sidelines of a discussion with dozens of MSMEs supplying food ingredients at the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) in the Pamulang area of South Tangerang, Banten, on Tuesday.
He remarked that some children in Indonesia, who earlier could only eat meat once a year during special celebrations like Eid al-Adha, can now enjoy it daily through the MBG kitchens in schools.
He stated that the MBG program is not just about free meals but also a concrete implementation of the fifth principle of Pancasila: social justice for all Indonesians, with MSMEs leading the food distribution.
At the event, Abdurrahman praised a female MSME owner who expanded from two employees to 100 due to a significant increase in demand for supplies generated by the MBG program.
He noted that non-subsidized liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders, which earlier struggled to be absorbed by the market, have now found new demand in MBG kitchens across various cities, including South Tangerang and Bogor.
Furthermore, he highlighted the social impact of the MBG program, including job creation, especially for housewives, who now work chopping food ingredients in MBG kitchens.
He also encouraged MSMEs to keep supporting the MBG program and called on all Indonesians to sustain and advance it as part of the struggle for a just and equitable people's economy.
"For those who oppose the free nutritious meal program, confront all these mothers, because this has become a necessity," he remarked.
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Translator: Muhammad Harianto, Martha Herlinawati Simanjuntak
Editor: Primayanti
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