Indonesia’s ambitious free meal program officially kicked off on Monday, aiming to provide meals to over 83 million people by 2029. The initiative, spearheaded by President Prabowo Subianto as part of his election campaign, began without any formal ceremony but has already reached 570,000 people across more than 20 provinces on its first day.
The program, which primarily targets school children and pregnant women, saw meals being distributed from 190 kitchens nationwide. At an elementary school in West Jakarta, students received nutritious meals consisting of rice, fried chicken, tofu, beans, and an orange. Parents, like Hana Yohana, welcomed the initiative, citing how it has simplified daily routines for families.
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The program is expected to reach 15 million people this year, with an eventual goal of providing meals to 82.9 million Indonesians by 2029. However, its high cost has sparked debate, with the initial five-year budget of $28 billion now expected to exceed 71 trillion rupiah ($4.39 billion) for the first phase.
President Prabowo has defended the initiative, highlighting its potential to reduce child malnutrition and stimulate local economic growth. The government and military are collaborating on meal distribution efforts, with plans to scale up the program to reach 3 million people by March.
In addition to meals, the program includes periodic milk distribution, and plans are underway to boost domestic milk production through the import of dairy cows from Australia.
