Indonesia introduces free meals program to feed children, pregnant women to fight stunting
Indonesia has initiated an ambitious $28 million project aimed at combating malnutrition and stunting among nearly 90 million children and pregnant women, Arab News reported.
The Free Nutritious Meal program, a campaign promise by President Prabowo Subianto, seeks to address the alarming 21.5% stunting rate among children under five.
The program will provide free school lunches and milk to 83 million students across more than 400,000 schools. By 2025, the government aims to reach 19.47 million schoolchildren and pregnant women with a budget of 71 trillion rupiah ($4.3 billion). The initiative is expected to distribute 6.7 million tons of rice, 1.2 million tons of chicken, and other essential food items.
Despite its ambitious goals, the program has faced criticism regarding its affordability and potential impact on Indonesia’s state finances. Economic experts warn that the fiscal burden could lead to increased state debt, complicating the government’s target of achieving 8% GDP growth. Nonetheless, advocates emphasize the urgent need to address child malnutrition, which poses severe long-term health risks for the nation’s youth.
It should be mentioned that Indonesia is home to the largest Muslim population in the world, with approximately 87.06% of its population identifying as Muslim. This translates to about 242 million Muslims living in the country, making it the most populous Muslim-majority nation globally.
