Critics claim that the programme is failing because it was rushed without proper planning or transparency. Photo / AFP
Critics claim that the programme is failing because it was rushed without proper planning or transparency. Photo / AFP
When an Indonesian mother dropped off her daughter at school in May, she did not expect her to become violently sick after eating lunch from the Government’s new billion-dollar free meal programme.
“My daughter had a stomach ache, diarrhoea, and a headache,” the woman told AFP on condition of anonymityabout the incident in the Javan city of Bandung.
“She also couldn’t stop vomiting until three in the morning.”
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto touted the populist scheme as a solution to the high rates of stunted growth among children, as he carved his way to a landslide election victory last year.
However, its rollout since January has stumbled from crisis to crisis, including accusations of nepotism, funding delays, protests, and a spate of food poisonings.
But Prabowo has lauded the number of illnesses as a positive.
“Indeed there was a poisoning today, around 200 people out of three million,” he said in May.
“Over five were hospitalised, so that means the success rate is 99.99 per cent. A 99.99 per cent success rate in any field is a good thing.”
Rushed policy
Large-scale aid programmes in Indonesia have a history of allegations of graft at both the regional and national levels.
Experts say this programme is particularly vulnerable, with little in the way of accountability.
“A big budget means the possibility of corruption is wide open, and with lax monitoring, corruption can happen,” said Egi Primayogha, a researcher at Indonesia Corruption Watch.
“Since the beginning, the programme was rushed, without any good planning. There is no transparency.”
The programme was rolled out soon after Prabowo took office in October and local investigative magazine Tempo reported that “several partners appointed” were Prabowo supporters in the election.
Agus Pambagio, a Jakarta-based public policy expert, said Prabowo rushed the plan, with critics saying there was little public consultation.
“Japan and India have been doing it for decades. If we want to do it just like them within a few months, it’s suicide,” he said.
Food poisoning incidents were reported in six schools, affecting many students. Photo / AFP
The plan’s stated aim is to combat stunting, which affects more than 20% of the country’s children, and reduce that rate to 5% by 2045.
Prabowo’s administration has allocated US$0.62 per meal and initially set a budget of 71 trillion rupiah (US$4.3b) for this year.
But authorities have been accused of delays and under-funding the programme.
A catering business in capital Jakarta had to temporarily shut down in March because the Government had not paid the US$60,000 it was owed. The case went viral and it eventually got its money back.
Poses risks
The Government announced a US$6.2b budget boost recently but revised it by half as problems mounted in its ambitious quest to deliver meals to almost 83 million people by 2029.
Widespread cuts to fund the programme’s large budget also sparked protests across Indonesian cities in February.
Yet some say the programme has benefitted their child.
“It’s quite helpful. I still give my son pocket money, but since he got free lunch, he could save that money,” Reni Parlina, 46, told AFP.
However, a May survey by research institute Populix found more than 83% of 4000 respondents think the policy should be reviewed.
“If necessary, the programme should be suspended until a thorough evaluation is carried out,” said Egi.
The rollout of the free food programme has stumbled from crisis to crisis, including accusations of nepotism, funding delays, protests and a spate of food poisonings. Photo / AFP
The National Nutrition Agency, tasked with overseeing free meal distribution, did not respond to an AFP request for comment.
The agency has said it will evaluate the scheme and has trained thousands of kitchen staff.
Kitchen partners say they are taking extra precautions too.
“We keep reminding our members to follow food safety protocols,” said Sam Hartoto of the Indonesian Catering Entrepreneurs Association, which has 100 members working with the Government.
While they seek to provide assurances, the debacles have spooked parents who doubt Prabowo’s Government can deliver.
“I don’t find this programme useful. It poses more risks than benefits,” said the mother of the sick girl.
