JAKARTA, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said Friday that the country's free nutritious meal program now benefits 20 million people.
He made the announcement in his state address at the Annual Session of the People's Consultative Assembly and the Joint Session of the House of Representatives and the Regional Representative Council in Jakarta, ahead of Indonesia's 80th Independence Day anniversary on Aug. 17.
"This morning I received a report that a total of 20 million school children, pre-school children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers receive free nutritious meals every day," Prabowo said.
The president noted that the program still faces various management challenges, including the construction of kitchens, supply chain management, and the training of program managers and implementers.
Prabowo said that the initiative is more than a social welfare measure, it is a strategic investment in building a healthy, intelligent, and productive generation. The program has been running for only seven months, positive impacts have been visible, such as rising school attendance and improved student performance, he said.
Currently, 5,800 nutrition fulfillment service units operate in 38 provinces across Indonesia. The facilities have created 290,000 new jobs and engaged 1 million farmers, fishermen, livestock breeders, and small and medium enterprises, according to the president. ■
