Jakarta. Indonesia will reduce the distribution of free nutritious meals for schoolchildren to five days a week as part of budget efficiency measures, while maintaining a six-day schedule in underdeveloped regions with high stunting rates.

Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, said priority areas will continue receiving meals from Monday to Saturday to ensure adequate daily nutrition for children.

“Providing free nutritious meals on Saturdays in regions with high stunting risk is a strategic step to ensure children receive sufficient nutrition every day,” Dadan said in a statement on Sunday.

The designation of priority regions is based on data from the 2024 Indonesian Nutrition Status Survey conducted by the Health Ministry.

Dadan added that the agency will coordinate with local education and health offices to ensure accurate targeting of beneficiaries.

“Our team will work closely with regional education and health authorities to ensure data accuracy, so the distribution of nutritious meals reaches the right recipients,” he said.

Data collection includes the number of schools, student populations, and stunting prevalence in each area. Several regions in eastern Indonesia and parts of Sumatra remain priorities due to relatively high stunting rates, he added.

The program is expected to reach 82.9 million beneficiaries nationwide, including toddlers, school-age children, and pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa previously said the reduction in distribution days is projected to save around Rp 40 trillion ($2.4 billion). The government has allocated Rp 335 trillion ($19.7 billion) for the program this year.