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Lawmaker: Free meals program won't affect education budget in Papua
One of the protesters, Rohex Relembo, explained that they were rejecting the program because they believed the funds allocated for free meals should instead be redirected to ensure free education in the province.
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Controversial rollout: A student receives her prepackaged meal as part of the government's free meals program at SD 1 Gagaksipat state elementary school in Boyolali, Central Java, on Jan. 15, 2025. The Central Java administration has allocated Rp 67.1 billion from its budget to support the free meals rollout. (Antara/Aloysius Jarot Nugroho)
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lawmaker from President Prabowo Subianto's Gerindra Party reassured the public that the president's flagship free meals program would not affect Papua's education budget, amid widespread student protests in the region demanding the government to prioritize free education over providing free lunches.
Yan Mandenas, a member of the House of Representatives representing Papua, clarified that the budget for the free meals program is separate from the funds allocated for education in the region.
“The free meals program is funded directly through the state budget, while education in Papua is financed through the special autonomy funds,” Mandenas explained on Monday.
“The central government mandates regional administrations to allocate 30 percent of the special autonomy funds for education. Each regency in Papua receives a minimum of Rp 140 billion annually in special autonomy funds, which should be sufficient to provide free education in the region,” he added.
Since 2001, the central government has allocated special autonomy funds to all regions in Papua as part of efforts to bridge the development gap between Papua and the rest of Indonesia, while also pursuing political compromise and conflict resolution amid the ongoing separatist movement in the region.
Mandenas explained that through the free meals program, the government aimed to improve nutrition in Papua, which would ultimately enhance the quality of human resources and empower local communities to contribute to the regions’ development in the future.
“We urge the public not to pit the free meals program against free education in Papua. We also hope that local administrations can make optimal use of the special autonomy budget for the education and health of the Papuan people,” he said.
