Free Nutritious Meals Provided by BGN During Ramadan for Takeaway
In a heartwarming initiative, the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) announced that they will be preparing nutritious meals for school children participating in the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program during the upcoming Ramadan month. The head of BGN, Dadan Hindayana, shared this news with reporters in response to questions about the distribution scheme for Free Nutritious Meals during Ramadan at the PBNU Central Office in Matraman, East Jakarta, on Monday, January 20, 2025.
Ensuring Access to Healthy Food
“We will provide meals that can be taken home for breaking the fast. So, even during Ramadan, we at the National Nutrition Agency will continue to organize the Free Nutritious Meals program. This is an essential part and eagerly awaited by the children,” Dadan expressed.
For students at Islamic boarding schools who are beneficiaries of the Free Nutritious Meals program, they will receive their meals at iftar. Dadan explained that the implementation during Ramadan at boarding schools will be more straightforward as cooking activities will proceed as usual, and the meals will be distributed during iftar.
Meeting the Needs of Students
Currently, there are approximately 30,000 boarding schools with 5 million students targeted to benefit from the Free Nutritious Meals program. Dadan assured that this target will be gradually met by the year 2025.
“This will be fulfilled gradually, and if the acceleration requested by the President can be implemented, then by 2025, the entire target will be achieved,” Dadan emphasized.
Strengthening Partnerships for Success
After a closed-door meeting, Dadan highlighted the pivotal role of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) in Indonesia’s societal landscape. He mentioned that NU can be a crucial partner for the National Nutrition Agency to enhance services and ensure the success of the Free Nutritious Meals program. With approximately 5 million students across Indonesia already benefiting from the program, the collaboration with NU is expected to expedite the provision of nutritious meals, aligning with the President’s vision for improved service delivery.
“Dadang’s words shed light on the significance of collaboration and community support in ensuring that every child has access to healthy and nutritious meals, especially during the holy month of Ramadan. As a community, we can come together to make a positive impact and uplift those in need,” shared Marissa, a local volunteer deeply touched by the efforts of the National Nutrition Agency and NU in supporting vulnerable children.
