Deputy Minister: 18,000 Cadres Ready for Free Nutritious Meal Distribution

There are 18,000 Family Planning Counselors (PKB) and Field Family Planning Officers (PLKB) who are prepared to lead the government’s Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, preschoolers, and toddlers—especially those under the age of two. This statement was made by Deputy Minister of Population and Family Development (Kemendukbangga) Ratu Ayu Isyana Bagoes Oka during a discussion forum titled “Double Check” organized by the Presidential Communication Office (PCO) in collaboration with Gempita in Jakarta. The discussion, with the theme “The Role of Family Development in Welcoming Indonesia Emas 2045,” also included Deputy Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Veronica Tan, as well as PCO Senior Expert Staff Chacha Anisa. Isyana highlighted the government’s efforts to prepare for Indonesia’s golden generation in 2045, with the MBG program being one of the key initiatives. She explained that the program targets pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, toddlers, and preschoolers who are not covered by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. Kemendukbangga works with the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) to implement the program through trained cadres deployed on the ground. Alongside PKB and PLKB cadres, Kemendukbangga collaborates with the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Home Affairs to establish Family Assistance Teams (TPK) with around 600,000 members nationwide. These teams play a crucial role in distributing MBG to pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers, especially those under two years old. Isyana emphasized the importance of nutrition for expectant and nursing mothers, as well as young children to improve human resources quality, aligning with the government’s Asta Cita goal to start with families as the smallest unit and as early as possible. She noted that habits are developed within families, even with different dynamics, and stressed the significance of the first 1,000 days of life in preventing stunting, starting from pregnancy, not just at birth.

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