Sri Mulyani Says Prabowo's Free Meal Program to Target 4 Groups in 2025

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has confirmed that the Free Nutritious Meal program will be implemented in 2025. The flagship initiative of President-elect Prabowo Subianto is designed to benefit not only school children but also pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers.

During a plenary meeting with the House of Representatives (DPR) on Tuesday, August 27, Sri acknowledged the council members' proposal to expand the program's target groups. “The government agrees with the faction's view that the free nutritious meal program should also target pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers,” she said.

Sri emphasized that the program is expected to improve nutritional adequacy, enhance cognitive development in children, and prevent stunting. She highlighted the government's ongoing efforts to reduce the prevalence of stunting, which has decreased from 37.2 percent to 21.5 percent between 2013 and 2023.

“Our targeted interventions in 12 priority provinces focus on the prevention aspect, particularly during the critical first 1,000 days of life,” Sri said.

Previously, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, head of the Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka Government Synchronization Task Force Team, announced the inclusion of the free nutritious meal program in the 2025 State Budget draft. He confirmed that the program had been integrated into the budget planning process.

President Jokowi also mentioned the free nutritious meal program in his speech at the annual plenary meeting of the House of Representatives (DPR) on August 16, emphasizing its role in accelerating economic growth, strengthening welfare, and promoting regional equality.

He said that the program is designed to improve children's nutrition while empowering micro, small, and medium enterprises and boosting the economies of local communities.

The former Jakarta governor also indicated that the free nutritious meal program would be implemented in stages, aligning with technical and institutional readiness and ensuring accountable governance.

Although he did not provide specific details, Jokowi hinted that the program would be included in the education budget, which is allocated at Rp722.6 trillion. This budget is allocated for various initiatives, including improving the nutrition of school children, renovating schools, and developing superior schools.

ADIL AL HASAN | RIRI RAHAYU

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