Indonesia stops free meals programme during school holidays, weekends to cut costs
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One expert said meal distribution during school breaks was poorly targeted and created unnecessary spending.
PHOTO: AFP
JAKARTA – Indonesia’s National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has stopped distributing free nutritious meals during school breaks and weekends as part of the government’s austerity drive, after the policy drew criticism for encouraging wasteful spending.
Previously, the free meals programme operated six days a week even though most schools only run on a five-day schedule. Under the new policy, the BGN has reduced distribution to five days a week to align with school operating days in most regions.
