Indonesia launches free meal program amid budget constraints

Expert questions lack of transparency on military-run public kitchens

20250106 free meal in Indonesia main

Students at an elementary school in Jakarta enjoyed a free meal provided by the government for the first time on Jan. 6. (Photo by Tomoyoshi Oshikiri)

ISMI DAMAYANTI, Nikkei staff writer

JAKARTA -- Indonesia formally rolled out its free meals for children program on Monday, a flagship policy of President Prabowo Subianto, but on a much reduced scale to what was initially planned.

A total of 570,000 school students in 26 provinces enjoyed a free meal box -- less than a fifth of the initial target to provide meals to 3 million students and a far cry from the ultimate target of nearly 80 million.

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