Jakarta. Indonesia’s free meal initiative has consumed at least Rp 134.2 trillion (almost $7.6 billion) in the state budget this year, according to the Finance Ministry, as the government tries to prevent more kids from falling ill.

Southeast Asia’s biggest economy has been dishing out free meals to students, toddlers, and expectant mothers as part of President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship program. The ex-army general believes that these meals will not only fill the kids’ tummies, but also help combat malnutrition and catapult the economy through the jobs it creates. Indonesia’s budgetary plans have been largely engrossed by this school-feeding initiative.

By August 31, Indonesia spent around Rp 134.2 trillion to keep the program running, up from around Rp 117.3 trillion ($6.6 billion) at the end of July. The meals — mainly served on steel trays — had gone to 57 million individuals, including 46.2 million students. There are at least 27,485 kitchens across the archipelago cooking the lunches. 

“We believe that the meal distribution is now better-targeted, thanks to the reforms that are happening at the National Nutrition Agency [BGN]. We are closely in touch,” Finance Minister Suahasil Nazara said in Jakarta on Friday, referring to the government body that is in charge of the program.

On “reforms”, BGN has mandated hygiene certifications for the public kitchens. Countless students have fallen sick after eating the meals, which authorities have blamed on delayed delivery times and improper storage. BGN has suspended units that fall short of the hygiene standards.

Distribution in areas with high stunting rates now focuses more on toddlers and pregnant women for early intervention, according to Suahasil. 

“All these reforms have made sure that the people’s money for this program is really going to the people who really need it,” the newly appointed minister told the press.

Food poisoning aside, the cost-heavy program has been undergoing a budgetary “diet”. 

Lawmakers recently approved earmarking Rp 240.2 trillion ($13.6 billion) for BGN’s 2027 budget, with the money set to be used to feed almost 72.5 million people. This marked a Rp 30 trillion (nearly $1.7 billion) cut from what was originally intended. BGN boss Sudaryono promised to use every rupiah “effectively and on target”. 

The spending on this program was initially capped at Rp 335 trillion (around $18.9 billion) for this year alone before being cut to Rp 229 trillion ($12.9 billion).

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