Indonesia: Government launches free meal program to tackle child malnutrition and support pregnant women
Monday, January 13, 2025 11:30 PM

The Indonesian government has launched a large-scale free meal program targeting schoolchildren and pregnant women to combat malnutrition. President Prabowo Subianto’s initiative began on Monday, January 6th, initially focusing on 20 provinces with the help of 190 kitchens. While the program is aimed to expand to three million recipients by March, the long-term goal is to support around 82.9 million people by 2029, accounting for a little less than one-third of Indonesia’s population. However, though some parents have shown enthusiasm for the program, economists are worried about its fiscal sustainability, as it is estimated to cost around $28 billion over the course of five years.