"When children receive nutritious meals at school, the burden on parents to prepare lunches and meet daily food needs is automatically lower," he remarked in Jakarta on Friday.
He conveyed the statement based on a BPS baseline survey of 81,100 households across Indonesia, which found that the majority of MBG beneficiaries found it easier to access healthy food, spent less time preparing meals, and adopted healthier eating habits, particularly in rural areas.
"The MBG program is designed not only to meet children's nutritional needs but also to bolster families' economic resilience," he asserted.
Hindayana added that lower household expenses allow families to redirect their income toward other essential needs like education, healthcare, and savings.
According to him, the BPS survey results serve as a vital foundation for creating more targeted future policies.
"The BPS data is our benchmark for continuously enhancing the program, ensuring its benefits become more widespread and equitable," he said.
Moving forward, the BGN and BPS will continue to strengthen data-driven monitoring and evaluation systems to ensure the free meals program remains effective, transparent, and sustainable.
Earlier, the BPS Chief Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti explained that the MBG survey was conducted in two stages: a specific survey on program implementation and supply chains, and a baseline survey on the impact on beneficiary households.
"Our baseline survey involves 81,100 households across Indonesia to provide estimates at the provincial level," she said.
Widyasanti noted that the survey results show the majority of beneficiaries found it easier to access nutritious food, spent less time preparing meals, and shifted toward healthier eating habits, especially among those in rural areas.
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Translator: Lintang Budiyanti, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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