Indonesia Moves Ahead With Free Meals Programme Despite Strong Criticism

Post by : Saif

Indonesia’s government has confirmed that it will continue its nationwide free meals programme, even as critics question its cost and safety record. President Prabowo Subianto said the programme will move forward despite what he described as an extraordinary campaign against it. He defended the policy and said it is being funded through budget savings rather than wasteful spending.

The president made these remarks while launching a free meal kitchen operated by the national police in Jakarta. He rejected claims that the programme is draining public money. According to him, the government has reduced spending in other areas and redirected funds so the meals plan can continue while keeping the fiscal deficit within the legal limit of 3 percent of national output.

The free meals programme is one of the largest social welfare drives in the country. It aims to provide daily meals to schoolchildren and low-income citizens. Officials say that about 60 million people have already received meals since the scheme began. Supporters say the plan helps reduce hunger, supports poor families, and improves student attention in classrooms.

But the programme has also faced serious criticism. Since its rollout, reports say at least 15,000 children fell ill due to food poisoning linked to distributed meals. These incidents raised alarms about food preparation, hygiene, and delivery systems. Health experts say that when a programme works at such a large scale, safety controls must be strict and checked regularly.

The president responded by saying the percentage of affected children is small compared to the total number served. He said the programme is successful overall but admitted that safety standards must improve further. He promised tighter inspections, better kitchen controls, and clearer responsibility at each stage of meal preparation and delivery.

The debate comes during a sensitive period for the Indonesian economy. A recent warning by global index provider MSCI about stock market transparency triggered a sharp market sell-off. Soon after, credit rating agency Moody’s changed its outlook on Indonesia’s government bonds and several companies to negative.

Some investors are worried about large government spending promises, including the estimated $20 billion cost of the meals programme. They fear heavy spending could pressure public finances. The government insists this will not happen and says the programme is supported by savings and efficiency measures elsewhere in the budget.

This situation highlights a larger policy challenge. Governments must balance social welfare with financial discipline. Feeding children and vulnerable citizens is an important goal, but programmes must also be safe, transparent, and affordable. Without strong management, even a good plan can lose public trust.

Indonesia’s free meals programme is ambitious and wide in reach. Its long-term success will depend on food safety enforcement, careful budget control, and open reporting. If these are handled well, the programme could become a strong model of public support. If problems continue, criticism will grow.

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