Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency (BGN) announced that its free nutritious food program, known as MBG, will continue to serve street children and the elderly, with plans to expand coverage to additional vulnerable groups.
According to BGN Head Dadan Hindayana, street children and the elderly have long been beneficiaries of the program. However, only school-aged children who have dropped out of school are eligible to receive MBG rations.
"School dropouts and school-aged children are indeed part of the beneficiaries," he said in a statement on Saturday, December 6, 2025.
The Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit, or MBG kitchens, will identify areas where street children live and assign specially trained personnel to deliver MBG packages directly to them.
Deputy Head of BGN, Nanik Sudaryati Deyang, added that delivery personnel will come from local communities.
"We involve the community for distribution, just like with MBG for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers. It is the community that delivers the packages," she explained.
Community members assisting with deliveries will receive special incentives, though the details of these rewards have not yet been finalized. For elderly recipients, distribution falls under the responsibility of the Ministry of Social Affairs.
Nanik also highlighted that, following President Prabowo Subianto's directive, MBG distribution will extend to the elderly, street children, scavengers, and all citizens in the lower-income category.
The expansion is formalized under Presidential Regulation No. 115 of 2025, which calls for broader MBG coverage.
"President Prabowo wants all the poor, disabled, elderly, school dropouts, street children, and scavenger children to receive MBG," Nanik said.
The program's reach will also include educators, such as public school teachers, honorary staff, private school teachers, as well as religious teachers and students in pesantren not affiliated with the Ministry of Religion.
Local community health and family volunteers, including PKK cadres and posyandu members, will also be among the beneficiaries.