Politics · Indonesia · 2 hrs ago
Indonesia Reports Rp 44 Trillion in Savings From Free Meal Program
Indonesia’s National Nutrition Agency says the free meal program saved or returned Rp 44 trillion in 100 days.
The agency’s head, Sudaryono, said Rp 38 trillion was returned after the agency’s budget was reduced from Rp 268 trillion to Rp 229 trillion.
The agency also cut foundation incentives from Rp 6 million a day to Rp 2,000 per meal tray, saving an estimated Rp 2.5 trillion to Rp 3 trillion.
It limited kitchen operating funds to Rp 3,000, with another Rp 3 trillion in savings expected by year’s end.
The agency also returned about Rp 472 billion from problem accounts and audit findings to the state treasury.
These steps are intended to reduce waste in the program, and the agency says it will continue applying the spending limits.
Indonesia’s National Nutrition Agency says it has achieved Rp 44 trillion in savings and returned funds to the state treasury through the free meals program.
Agency head Sudaryono said the savings were recorded over 100 days of his leadership.
The agency attributed the amount to changes in its budget allocation, reduced foundation incentives, limits on kitchen operating costs and action on improper virtual-account balances.
The agency says its budget allocation was reduced from Rp 268 trillion to Rp 229 trillion, with about Rp 38 trillion returned to the treasury.
Sudaryono said the measures were intended to ensure program funds were used appropriately and could be accounted for.
- Who
- Indonesia’s National Nutrition Agency and its head, Sudaryono.
- What
- The agency reported Rp 44 trillion in savings and returned funds linked to the free meals program.
- When
- Over 100 days of Sudaryono’s leadership; he announced the figure on October 29, 2026.
- Where
- Jakarta, Indonesia.
- Why
- To ensure the program’s state budget is used appropriately and can be accounted for.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The agency issued a policy to adjust foundation incentives, according to Detik.
Sudaryono announced the Rp 44 trillion savings figure at an event in Jakarta.
- Reported savings
- Rp 44 trillion
- Budget allocation before adjustment
- Rp 268 trillion
- Budget allocation after adjustment
- Rp 229 trillion
- Returned from budget adjustment
- About Rp 38 trillion
- Foundation incentive change
- From Rp 6 million per day to Rp 2,000 per portion
- Kitchen operating-cost cap
- Rp 3,000 per portion
2 sources
What people are saying
If this continues, the state budget will be spent on operations, not on rice, not on the menu. This is unacceptable; it must be stopped.
So the total we have saved from public money in 100 days is Rp 44 trillion.
The total we have saved from public money in these 100 days is Rp 44 trillion.