REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Spokesman for second vice presidential candidate Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Emil Elestianto Dardak believes the free lunch and milk program in schools and boarding schools is a “complete package” to solve the problem.

The program initiated by Prabowo-Gibran is not only a solution to health problems or malnutrition. The program is considered to be able to solve social and economic problems in society. Emil said the program would greatly help financially difficult families.

“Not for families of the preschool category, those who have not dared to declare prosperity are overwhelmed by the need for their child's school fees. At the same time, we also overcome the problem of nutritional intake due to schools providing food,” Emil said in his remarks on Saturday (3/2/2024).

Emil said Prabowo was excited to discuss human resources (HR). According to Prabowo, Emil continued, the main prerequisite for HR development is healthy and this starts from optimal growth.

“That's why promoting nutrition improvement is a priority, especially for schoolchildren and kindergartens. The program is also recommended by an international institution such as the WFP (World Food Programme), which means that the program is science-based, not wits or gimmicks,” Emil said.

Emil said the program is the same hope as the immunization program. In order for the distribution locus to be effective, this policy targets children in schools and boarding schools.

“Because at lunchtime or at noon, it is not necessarily school finished, then they go home and eat at home,” the Deputy Governor of East Java said.

Emil also made sure that the food that was later distributed met the national nutritional standards. For example, the government currently has an Fill My Plate program that is based on the fulfillment of balanced nutrition in 700 calories. As for the details, the carbohydrates or staples are 150 grams of rice, 75 grams of animal side dishes, 100 grams of vegetable side dishes, 150 grams of vegetables and 150 grams of fruits.

“Without further ado, the content of the free lunch would have been discussed. Because the goal is an upgrade, not a downgrade. It is impossible for us to give food if the nutritional content is even lower than before,” said Emil.

Other issues addressed through this program are social and economic issues. According to Emil, not a few parents find it difficult to provide a suitable fare or tuition for their children.

“This program will be very helpful for families whose financial burden to eat is very swollen compared to their monthly money,” said Regent Trenggalek of the 2016-2019 period.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commander of Fanta TKN Prabowo-Gibran Team, Anggawira stated that the free lunch program in schools and boarding schools will turn the wheels of society's economy because it is driven by MSMEs.

For information, this policy is already in place in 125 countries according to a report by the Global Child Nutrition Foundation (GCNF). According to the World Food Programme (WFP) in 2022, from a sample of 176 countries, 418 million children have received school meal benefits.

Prospective couple Prabowo-Gibran cast the program as a way to tackle malnutrition among children. Meanwhile, to stamp out the stunting, Prabowo-Gibran also promised to provide free lunches with extra nutritional attention for expectant mothers. The target of the program is about 82.9 million people.

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