TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

Acting Jakarta governor holds free-meal trial with own operational funds

Radhiyya Indra (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Tue, August 20, 2024

Change text size

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Acting Jakarta governor holds free-meal trial with own operational funds Acting Jakarta governor Heru Budi Hartono oversees the first trial of the free nutritious meals program on Aug. 19, 2024, at SDN Cideng 07 state elementary school in Gambir, Central Jakarta. (Antara/Muhammad Ramdan)

A

cting Jakarta governor Heru Budi Hartono claimed he had used his own operational funds to hold the first trial of the free nutritious meals program, which is slated to be implemented nationally under president-elect Prabowo Subianto’s incoming administration.

During his visit on Monday to SDN Cideng 07 state elementary school in Gambir, Central Jakarta, to oversee the first trial, Heru said the money came from his operational fund because the program had not been officially included in the regional budget.

“The budget is just not there yet,” he said, as reported by Kompas.

About Rp 8 million ($US517.18) was allocated for the trial at SDN Cideng 07, with each meal valued at Rp 15,000 or almost a dollar. A total of 498 students participated in the trial.

The menu consisted of rice, stir-fried cabbage, fried chicken, a banana and mineral water in packaged plastic cups. The menu will vary each day.

Read also: Questions linger over how Prabowo will fund free school meals

Morning Brief

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning.

Delivered straight to your inbox three times weekly, this curated briefing provides a concise overview of the day's most important issues, covering a wide range of topics from politics to culture and society.

By registering, you agree with The Jakarta Post's

Thank You

for signing up our newsletter!

Please check your email for your newsletter subscription.

View More Newsletter

As established in the government regulation on regional head finances, a governor is entitled to an operational budget ranging from Rp 150 million to Rp 1.25 billion monthly, depending on the region’s original revenue (PAD).

Heru ensured that the trials would continue until September, and parts of the budget would come from his operational funds. He would also try to invite region-owned enterprises in the city to participate in the funding.

So far, the free meals program will only be trialed in elementary schools. The city administration has not determined whether to expand it to junior and senior high schools.

The free meals program is one of Prabowo’s signature programs aimed at feeding 82 million children, teachers and pregnant women to improve childhood nutrition.

Following last week’s annual State Budget Address, the program is estimated to cost the government around Rp 450 trillion per year when fully implemented. Some Rp 71 trillion has been allocated for next year.

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.

Share options

Quickly share this news with your network—keep everyone informed with just a single click!

Change text size options

Customize your reading experience by adjusting the text size to small, medium, or large—find what’s most comfortable for you.

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!

Generating Questionnaires

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
We appreciate your feedback.