Indonesia to Halt Free Meal Scheme During School Holidays

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Jakarta: Indonesia will temporarily suspend and limit the scope of its signature free lunch programme during the school holidays as the government seeks to alleviate rising pressure on public funds, officials said Friday.

President Prabowo Subianto's main campaign promise is to deliver free nutritious meals to millions of schoolchildren and pregnant women. As part of broader budget-saving measures, the government has decided to halt food delivery when schools are closed and make changes to the scheme's coverage.

Officials said the temporary halt is aimed to increase cost efficiency while ensuring the program's financial sustainability. The government has not announced any plans to permanently end the effort.

Despite the revisions, the government continued to affirm its support for the free meal program, calling it as a long-term investment in boosting child nutrition, health, and educational outcomes. The scheme is supposed to resume once schools reopen.