Attending Forum Merdeka Barat 9, Vice Minister: It’s the State’s Responsibility to Care for Its People

JAKARTA (4 November 2024) - The Vice Minister of Social Affairs, Agus Jabo Priyono, stated that Ministry of Social Affairs is ready to collaborate with other ministries and institutions to implement the free nutritious meal program.

“It is state’s responsibility to take care of its people,” emphasized Vice Minister Agus Jabo at Forum Merdeka Barat 9, held at the Ministry of Communication and Digital's office in Jakarta on Monday, 4 November 2024.

Forum Merdeka Barat 9 (FMB9) is a discussion platform organized by Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Digital. This forum was established to facilitate communication between the government and the public, aimed at delivering information about policies, programs, and important issues circulating in Indonesia.

Vice Minister Agus Jabo had the opportunity to speak at FMB9 on the theme of “Free Nutritious Meals: From Here We Begin” alongside other speakers from related institutions, including Ikeu Tanzha, Senior Advisor to the Head of the National Nutrition Agency, and Andreasta Meliala, Head of the Integrated Health Services Bureau at UGM.

“The free nutritious meal program has been implemented by MoSA, specifically for elderly individuals over 75 years old living alone, and persons with disabilities. We provide meals twice a day,” said Agus Jabo.

The meals are prepared and delivered by local commodities.

During the forum, Minister Agus also emphasized the importance of targeting the right beneficiaries in the program. He also personally oversees the program to ensure accuracy and prevent misallocation.

“I personally check the meals for the elderly and PwDs to ensure they meet nutritional requirements, including protein and carbohydrates,” he explained.

Vice Minister Agus Jabo also highlighted the cultural aspect of food, emphasizing the need for regional mapping to tailor the meals to local preferences. This statement was supported by Ikeu Tanzha, who affirmed that the menu will be determined by each region to ensure no food goes uneaten.

The free nutritious meal program is an urgent initiative under Prabowo-Gibran's leadership, scheduled for implementation in January 2025. The program is aimed at contributing to the creation of a golden generation by 2045.

After the session, Vice Minister Agus Jabo shared a message from President Prabowo Subianto, delivered at the Magelang Military Academy, stating that any program, no matter how difficult, will succeed with strong willpower. “When there is a strong desire, strong leadership, unity between institutions at the central and regional levels, and collaboration between the government and the people, the dream of being equal to other nations will be realized,” he emphasized.