Post by : Shakul
The head of Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency has been dismissed by President Prabowo Subianto, who oversees the nation’s substantial free school meals program valued at approximately US$20 billion. This action comes in response to rising concerns regarding governance quality and food safety standards associated with this major welfare initiative.
Minister Prasetyo Hadi from the State Secretariat affirmed the decision, highlighting an internal review that assessed the agency’s performance since the launch of the program in January 2025. Inadequacies were noted in aspects such as administrative adherence and the monitoring of food safety, which triggered the government's response.
Officials acknowledged that the agency had difficulty upholding consistent governance and managing food quality across its widespread distribution system. These shortcomings prompted alarm within the administration due to the program's scale and its considerable impact on millions of students.
Dadan Hindayana, the former head of the agency, has been succeeded by deputy Nanik Sudaryati Deyang. Deyang, who previously worked as a journalist and was involved in Prabowo’s 2024 election campaign, is expected to enhance operational oversight and restore governance standards within the agency.
The authorities emphasized that procedural integrity and food safety monitoring were critical factors in their decision-making process. Ensuring rigorous quality standards is vital for a program aimed at delivering daily meals to tens of millions of Indonesian schoolchildren.
Additionally, the program has faced severe criticism due to reports of food poisoning incidents impacting over 33,000 children as of April, escalating scrutiny and pressure on the government about safety standards and overall implementation.
With an allocation of approximately 268 trillion rupiah (around US$15 billion) for this year’s initiative, reduced from a previous estimate of 335 trillion rupiah, the program has attracted interest from investors and fiscal analysts.
Despite the hurdles, the initiative has already assisted around 62 million beneficiaries as of April 30, with plans to extend support to nearly 83 million students by year-end. The government insists on the importance of this program as a core element of social welfare policy, with anticipated reforms to enhance oversight and delivery standards in the future.
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