Indonesia Vows Overhaul of Prabowo's $15 Billion Free Meals Program Amid Corruption Allegations
Indonesia has committed to overhauling its ambitious US$15 billion free nutritious meals program, a flagship initiative by President Prabowo Subianto. This decision follows public pressure and recent allegations of corruption concerning the initiative. Analysts view the overhaul as a moderate concession, avoiding a complete discontinuation of the program, which aims to combat malnutrition and stunted growth among 83 million beneficiaries including schoolchildren and pregnant women.
Indonesia has announced its intention to overhaul a significant national initiative, the free nutritious meals program. This program, a cornerstone initiative of President Prabowo Subianto's administration, has a budget of US$15 billion.
The decision to implement an overhaul comes in response to mounting public pressure and recent allegations of corruption associated with the program. Analysts have described this move as a "moderate" concession, suggesting it serves as an alternative to an "embarrassing" discontinuation of the high-profile initiative.
The program is designed to reach an estimated 83 million individuals, including schoolchildren, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers. Its primary objectives are to prevent malnutrition and address stunted growth across these vulnerable populations.
According to the South China Morning Post, the program has faced challenges since its inception.
