The Indonesian government has launched an ambitious free meal programme to combat malnutrition and promote healthy eating among students in underserved communities.

The ‘Free Nutritious Meal Programme’, a centrepiece of President Prabowo Subianto’s election campaign that propelled him to power in 2024, aims to reach more than 82 million students and pregnant mothers across Indonesia in five years.

A statement from the president’s office said the initiative was a first of its kind.

“For the first time in the history of independent Indonesia, a universal government-subsidised programme will provide millions of our students with rich, nutritious meals.

“These meals are processed with high standards of hygiene, ready to be served to children in schools across the largest archipelagic nation in the world,” the statement said.

It disclosed that the Indonesian education system is the fourth largest in the world, with more than 60 million students studying in more than 400,000 schools.

The statement added that key features of the programme include high-quality, balanced meals prepared with locally sourced ingredients to ensure freshness and central kitchens.

He said the programme had received strong endorsements from United Nations agencies, including the World Food Programme, UNICEF, and Food and Agriculture Organisation.

(NAN)