Indonesia’s new free meal program, designed to provide meals to over 83 million people, officially kicked off on Monday. The initiative, which forms part of President Prabowo Subianto’s election promises, was launched quietly without a formal ceremony.
On its first day, 570,000 people across more than 20 provinces were served meals from 190 kitchens. The program primarily focuses on schoolchildren and pregnant women, with plans to eventually reach 82.9 million people by 2029, covering almost a third of Indonesia’s population. However, the program has sparked controversy due to its significant cost.
Originally estimated at $28 billion over five years, the first phase of the program is now expected to cost 71 trillion rupiah ($4.39 billion), aiming to provide meals for 15 million people this year.
At an elementary school in West Jakarta, students received meals such as rice, fried chicken, tofu, beans, and an orange. Hana Yohana, a parent of a first-grader, shared her relief, noting that the program eased her morning routine by eliminating the need to prepare food.
Prabowo has defended the initiative, highlighting its role in combating child malnutrition and stimulating local economic growth. The government and military are collaborating to ensure efficient meal preparation and distribution, with plans to gradually expand the program. By March, the number of recipients is expected to grow to 3 million.
The program also includes milk distribution, though not on a daily basis, and efforts are underway to boost milk production by importing dairy cows from Australia.
