“We cannot risk food poisoning because these are our children, not just numbers,” Hasan said after chairing the team’s inaugural meeting in Jakarta.
“The coordination team will ensure continuous improvement in the program’s implementation,” he added.
Hasan said President Prabowo Subianto had issued a decree to formalize the team, which he will lead with support from Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno and Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Muhaimin Iskandar.
The team will harmonize policies across institutions and address cross-sector issues involving ministries, state agencies, and local governments, Hasan said.
“We are coordinating 13 ministries and agencies, and a daily executive will oversee operations. MBG is a top priority because the government’s success depends on it,” he added.
National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Deputy Head Nanik S. Deyang will serve as the daily executive chair, tasked with monitoring, supervising, and evaluating program implementation.
“Given its scale—with 82.9 million beneficiaries targeted—the Free Nutritious Meals program carries both significant impact and major challenges,” Hasan said.
He added that the government is preparing a presidential regulation to ensure stricter supervision at provincial and district levels.
Launched on January 6, 2025, the MBG program has distributed more than one billion nutritious meals to over 35 million schoolchildren, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers nationwide as of October.
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Translator: Arnidhya T, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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