Nicholas Ryan Aditya, Dani Prabowo, Jakarta – The Indonesian Military Headquarters (Mabes TNI) has deployed soldiers from 351 District Military Commands (Kodim), 14 main Navy bases (Lantamal) and 41 Airforce bases (Lanud) to support the government's free nutritious meals (MBG) program.
"351 Kodim, 14 Lantamal, 41 Lanud have been made available throughout Indonesia", TNI Information Centre head (Kapuspen) Mayor General Hariyanto told journalists on Tuesday January 7.
According to Hariyanto, the numbers are in accordance with the priority targets set by the government. He also said that the TNI is committed to supporting one of the programs initiated by the administration of President Prabowo Subianto.
"The TNI is fully committed to supporting the success of this program, as a form of community service in strengthening food security and improving public health", Hariyanto said.
Aside from providing personnel from Kodim, Lantamal and Lanud, the TNI also has duties that cover three main aspects of the free nutritious meals program.
The first task, explained Hariyanto, is related to logistic facilities. He said the TNI will work to distribute food ingredients to targeted free nutritious meal areas, including remote areas.
"(The second task) is the operationalisation of the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG): Through Kodim, Lantamal, Lanud, the TNI will provide land for the construction of Nutrition Services Fulfillment Units to prepare nutritious foods that will be distributed to schools and pregnant women", explained Hariyanto.
The third task is that the TNI will also be involved in supervision through to program evaluation. "Monitoring and evaluation: TNI personnel will also help ensure the program runs smoothly according to government targets", he concluded.
The free nutritious meals program, which was an election campaign promise made by President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, officially began on Monday January 6.
Presidential communications chief Hasan Nasbi said that the realisation of the program did not have to wait for the administration's first 100 working days in office but only needed 78 days after Prabowo became president.
"This represents a historical milestone for the Indonesian people, for the first time Indonesia has implemented a national-scale nutritional fulfillment program for toddlers, school children, santri [religious pupils], pregnant women and breastfeeding [mothers]", Nasbi said in a written statement on Sunday January 5.
On Monday, the government began providing free nutritious meals to school children, children under five years (toddlers), pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers at 190 locations in 26 of Indonesia's provinces.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "TNI Kerahkan 351 Kodim, 14 Lantamal dan 41 Lanud untuk Dukung Program Makan Bergizi Gratis".]
