Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – The Minister of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection, Arifah Fauzi, responded to the rejection by students in the Papua Highlands region who refused the government's provision of free nutritious meals (MBG) program. According to her, the students may not yet understand President Prabowo Subianto's good intentions in implementing the MBG.
"We will see what the cause is, perhaps they do not yet know (the good intentions)," she said when met after the National Conference of the Nahdlatul Ulama at the Sultan Hotel, Jakarta on Wednesday, February 5, 2025.
She said that the free nutritious meal program initiated by Prabowo Subianto is a form of the head of state's love for future generations. She considered Prabowo's commitment to providing meals for the nation's students as a good intention.
"From the ministry's perspective, we see that free nutritious meals are very much needed by children," said Arifah. "Starting from the time they are in the womb, toddlers, to school age," she continued.
Previously, a video circulated on social media showed the students' actions in the Yakuhimo Regency, Papua Highlands rejecting the MBG. One of them was uploaded by the @K*******9 The MBG program has not yet reached all areas in Papua. The Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, stated that the uneven distribution of free nutritious meals in Papua is due to the lack of developed infrastructure.
Currently, Dadan claims that the government is working to ensure that students in Papua and Central Papua soon receive the benefits of free nutritious meals. Dadan stated that both regions are among the priorities. The government's efforts to accelerate the achievement of the program's targets are being carried out through the addition of kitchens and cross-sector collaborations.
Dadan targeting around 1.5 million people will enjoy free nutritious meals by mid-February. This follows the plan to add approximately 238 units of nutrition fulfillment service (SPPG) in the same month.
– M. Raihan Muzzaki contributed to the writing of this article.