Indonesia’s free school meals programme is expected to reach 80 million recipients by April, a senior minister said on Monday, falling further behind earlier targets for the flagship policy of President Prabowo Subianto. Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan said the government had aimed to reach about 55 million recipients by early January, following a meeting with state agencies to discuss food reserves for 2026.
The programme was a central campaign promise by Prabowo in the 2024 election and aims to provide free meals to schoolchildren and pregnant women. The original target was to reach as many as 83 million people nationwide.
Prabowo had initially pledged a full rollout by the end of 2025.
DELAYS AND SAFETY CONCERNS
In October, the government scaled back its target to around 70 million recipients, citing a shortage of kitchens to prepare meals. Zulkifli did not explain why the goal has now been revised again.
The scheme has also drawn criticism over food safety. Since its launch in January, more than 11,000 children nationwide have been affected by food poisoning incidents, according to data from the agency overseeing the programme.
COST AND BUDGET
Indonesia has allocated 171 trillion rupiah ($10.19 billion) to fund the programme this year under the original target. The allocation for 2026 is set to nearly double to 335 trillion rupiah, highlighting the rising fiscal cost of the initiative.
WHY IT MATTERS
The free meal scheme is one of Prabowo’s most politically significant policies, and its delays, safety issues and soaring costs pose a test for his administration’s ability to deliver ambitious social programmes while maintaining budget discipline.
FUTURE OUTLOOK
The government’s revision of targets suggests officials expect further delays before the programme is fully implemented, even as budget commitments grow for 2026. Officials will likely face pressure to strengthen food safety oversight and expand kitchen infrastructure to meet adjusted goals. Lawmakers and public advocates may push for greater accountability and clearer timelines in upcoming parliamentary hearings, while the administration works to balance the programme’s social benefits against rising costs and logistical challenges.
With information from Reuters.
