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BGN trains thousands to accelerate free nutritious meal program
The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) is training 32,000 Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) heads with the Indonesia Defense University to support the free nutritious meals program. The program is set to serve 6 million people by August.
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This handout photograph taken and released on Feb. 3, 2025 by the Presidential Palace shows President Prabowo Subianto (standing, left) in a classroom at the Jati 05 Pagi State Elementary School as part of his inspection of the recently launched nationwide free meals program for schoolchildren, in East Jakarta. (AFP/Indonesia's Presidential Palace )
T
he government is currently training 32,000 people to spearhead the free nutritious meal program, National Nutritious Agency (BGN) head Dadan Hindayana said on Monday.
"So, we are currently training 32,000 personnel who will become the heads of the SPPG,” Dadan said, as quoted by Kompas.com, referring to the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units.
“Right now, there are only 2,000, which is why our program will only start serving 6 million people by August."
Dadan said the SPPG heads were undergoing training by the Indonesia Defense University (Unhan) and the Indonesian Military (TNI), in an effort to accelerate the free meals program.
However, he did not elaborate further on the training provided by Unhan, only emphasizing that the program’s success would largely be determined by factors like human resource readiness and budget availability.
Dadan acknowledged that the acceleration of the free meals program will only begin in September, after SPPG staff complete their training in July.
So far, the BGN has received a budget of Rp 71 trillion (US$4.36 billion) to implement the program. These funds will be allocated to meet the target number of recipients in each period.
However, Dadan said that President Prabowo Subianto had requested an acceleration of the program's implementation.
To support this, the BGN will get an additional Rp 100 trillion by September.
"And if this starts in September, we will need an additional budget of Rp 100 trillion. So, each month, we will require Rp 25 trillion," he said.
In addition to human resources, Dadan highlighted infrastructure readiness as a key factor in the success of the free meals program.
"After the budget is secured and human resources are ready, the third key factor is infrastructure preparation," he said.
This includes the establishment of SPPG buildings. Its development must involve various government agencies, including the TNI, National Police and State Intelligence Agency (BIN), as well as non-governmental organizations such as religious groups.
