“There’s no such thing as a free lunch” goes the adage but Indonesia has disproven that. President Prabowo Subianto’s government kicked off the Free Nutritious Meal initiative on Friday (January 6), in a lunch distributed across more than 5,70,000 people, the first day of it as per Reuters. The project catering to an estimated 82.9 million pupils in schools across the country is a fulfillment of an election promise.
What is the Free Nutritious Meal Programme?
Among his election promises, President Prabowo launched the Free Nutritious Meal program a few weeks after his government came into office on October 20, 2024. The ambitious program is funded by a 71 trillion rupiah (US$4.4 billion) allocation in Indonesia’s 2025 budget of 3,621.3 trillion rupiah (US$237 billion). Meals will be provided five days a week to schoolchildren, with an initial allocation of 15,000 rupiah (US$0.93) per child.
Despite assurances from Vice President-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka that the amount will not be reduced, some still speculate that a budget constraint will be a problem. Experts mention that the allocation could even be trimmed to 7,500 rupiah per meal, so the budget cap is not exceeded.
How India Inspired Indonesia’s Meal Scheme?
In April 2024, Indonesia’s delegation, comprising Deputy Coordinating Minister Mochammad Firman Hidayat, was due to visit India to study the phenomenal midday meal programme of India. The scheme, they claim, which is said to be eradicating malnutrition and increasing school attendance, is a replica of what Indonesia is doing.
Operations in one of Akshaya Patra’s largest kitchens, based in Bangalore, where the foundation produces meals in unprecedented volumes. Also learned the interplay of central and state governments of India in running this program with their emphasis on the need for synergy between different tiers of governments.
Challenges and Innovations in Implementation
Fish Milk: The Novel Innovation
Fish milk may be included in the program as this is a protein-rich dairy alternative produced from the local fish resources. Bearing Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, the fish milk had been presented as one of the environment-friendly and low cost options but nutritionists raise the concerns on its strong taste, allergens, and untested long-term health benefits.
Financial Burden
One challenge will be how to fund such an initiative: if fully rolled out, its annual cost may reach 450 trillion rupiah, surpassing the currently allocated 71 trillion rupiah. Analysts warn that it could push Indonesia’s budget deficit close to its legal limit of 3% of GDP.
The importation of dairy products has further complicated cost management. Domestic milk production only covers 22.7% of the needs of Indonesia, with the output decreasing from 951,003 tonnes in 2018 to 837,223 tonnes in 2023.
Technological Integration and Public Support
To streamline logistics and enhance accountability, the government plans to adapt lessons from India’s Digital Public Infrastructure, including the JAM (Jan Dhan Aadhar Mobile) initiative. To raise awareness, 10 million rupiah has been allocated to pay influencers to promote the programme.
Communications Minister Budi Arie Setiadi explained that these efforts aim to highlight the programme’s importance, especially as 20% of Indonesian children under five were stunted in 2022.
Will the Initiative Succeed?
Success for Indonesia’s Free Nutritious Meal program depends on whether the government can serve nutritious food at budget. “The problem is not only the cost per serving; it is about nutritious food,” said Budiman Sudjatmiko, a senior campaign member.
Utilizing local resources, such as community kitchens and village enterprises, would help stabilize cost while still achieving nutritional standards, the government said. Challenging, perhaps, but the program holds the promise to make a real difference for millions of children across Indonesia.
