Jakarta, Thekabarnews.com—Indonesia’s Free Meals Program (MBG) was started to help kids eat better. However, a recent survey found that people are losing faith in it. Furthermore, many express concerns about its implementation.

The Policy Research Center (Porec) studied and found that many survey respondents believe the program has not helped its intended beneficiaries.

Only 6.5 percent of the people who took the survey said that the program’s benefits have directly helped students. They expressed concern over how authorities would manage the funds.

Respondents also raised questions about whether the program primarily benefits administrative stakeholders and implementing partners rather than schoolchildren. Additionally, many expressed concerns. They feared that the focus on administrative efficiency may come at the expense of the students’ actual needs and well-being.

The surveys have intensified scrutiny of transparency and accountability in a flagship government program.

Analysts have also highlighted concerns about the quality of the meals served. The survey reported that 76 percent of respondents believe the portions and quality of food served in schools do not match the allocated budget. The budget ranges between Rp8,000 and Rp10,000 per meal.

Rumors suggest that budget management issues have arisen due to these ideas. Some individuals have even requested a comprehensive review of the procurement and distribution of goods. Meeting quality standards is important for the program’s main goal, which is to improve the nutrition of children.

The issue has increased public concern about overall operations. Experts say that big social programs work better when more people watch over them.

Such scrutiny could cause problems with inefficiency and a lack of trust in the programs. Moreover, this could make people unhappy with them, leading to decreased participation and support for these initiatives.

The survey also indicated that about 80 percent of the people who answered do not want the program to keep going the way it is now without a full review and some changes. Furthermore, the data shows that more and more people want better management, openness, and accountability.

So far, people in the government have not fully explained what the survey results mean. On the other hand, policy analysts say that stricter monitoring, clearer reporting systems, and stronger enforcement of standards will be needed to win back the public’s trust.

People who watch say that the big difference between the budgets that were set aside and the results that were expected is a big warning sign. If the program ignores this difference, it might fail to make kids healthier and smarter.

People who are talking to the government about the MBG program want to look at the whole thing again. To find out how long the program will last, it will be important to be more open. It is also important to ensure that students receive the payment directly. These two things are vital for the program’s long-term success.

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