Indonesia has started a scheme to provide free school meals. It is called The Free Nutritious Meal Programme. Over 570,000 children and pregnant women received a free breakfast when the idea started Monday. Cooks more than 190 kitchens 20 provinces helped to cook and serve the free food. More kitchens will start as the programme spreads nationwide. The plan was an election promise President Prabowo Subianto. He hopes to feed a quarter Indonesians 2029. This will cost $28 billion. Around 82 million people will get free food that year. Mr Subianto wants to end malnutrition Indonesia. Around 21.5 per cent children younger than five years old suffer poor nutrition.
President Subianto spoke about his hopes. He said: "Too many our brothers and sisters are the poverty line. Too many of our children go to school breakfast." Many parents were happy. Hana Yohana, the mother an elementary school child the capital Jakarta, spoke to reporters. She said: "Thank God. This really helps us. We normally have to work hard preparing food every morning, but now we don't." Government spokesperson Hariqo Wibawa Satria spoke about the free meals. He said: "This is a historic moment Indonesia. the first time, our country is conducting a nationwide nutrition program toddlers, students, and pregnant and breastfeeding mothers."
