Indonesia launches free meals program to feed children and pregnant women to fight malnutrition

Indonesia’s new government has begun an ambitious project to fight malnutrition by feeding nearly 90 million children and pregnant women that is expected to cost $28 billion through 2029, although critics question whether the program is affordable. The Free Nutritious Meal program delivers on a campaign promise by President Prabowo Subianto, who was elected last year. He says the program aims to fight the stunting of growth that afflicts 21% of Indonesian children younger than 5 and would raise the income of farmers. At his inauguration last year, Subianto promised to provide free school lunches and milk as part of a longer-term strategy to develop the nation’s human resources to achieve a “Golden Indonesia” generation by 2045.