Hashim Djojohadicumo: There is no coercion to join the MBG program

Jakarta – Special envoy of the president of the climate and energy Hashim Djojohadicumo emphasized that there was no element of coercion to participate in the free nutrition program (MBG). He said this MBG was a voluntary program. “I also want to emphasize that there is no element of coercion. Nothing will be forced to eat if they do not want to eat. There are Indonesian people who experience obesity, there are children of rich families who are also obese. There will be no coercion, it is based only on voluntary,” Hashim said in Jakarta, reports on Wednesday (5/21/2025). Hashim explained that the MBG program will provide decent and healthy food for 82 million Indonesian citizens. The first category consists of schoolchildren of about 48 million, then 4.3 million babies are still in the womb, and the rest for preschool/nursery children at Paud level. Browse to continue with the content The scope of this program is also aimed at pregnant women due to various proposals for the administration of President Prabowo Subianto. This is related to the urgency of babies in the uterus to obtain proper nutritional intake nine months before birth. The target of feeding 48 million children per school each is also based on data that reveals that as many as 41 percent of children without breakfast will study on an empty stomach. This is because their parents are unable to provide enough food for their children’s breakfast. “It engages 18 million children. So it is one of the motivators for Mr Prabowo to introduce the free nutrition eating program,” Hashim said. “Children cannot go to school with an empty stomach for five hours. They will not take up the knowledge to be given during school days,” he added. If 82 million Indonesians are provided by the state by the state, it will be one of the drivers of economic growth. That is, there will be 82 million eggs each, milk box, to the serving of food that will be provided every day. “Eggs are provided locally, vegetables are provided locally. Maybe most milk will be imported from neighboring countries, especially New Zealand and Australia, and perhaps part of India in the first or second year,” he said. “However, it will be a driver of growth. We estimate that it will increase our GDP (gross domestic product) between 1-2 percent per year,” he continued. (AZH/AZH) HOEGENG Awards 2025 Read the inspiring story of the exemplary police candidate here