Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia established 141 task forces mandated to fast-track the development of nutrition fulfillment service units (SPPGs), or kitchens for the Free Nutritious Meals program (MBG), in underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost (3T) areas.
"There are 141 district task forces focusing on facilitating the development of SPPGs in 3T areas, including preparing potential land in collaboration with local governments or other partners," Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian said.
He made the statement during the signing of an agreement between the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) and the Ministry of Public Works in Jakarta on Thursday.
The minister underscored that the primary duty of the task forces is to scout and propose potential construction sites for MBG kitchens in Indonesia's 3T areas, which are mostly located deep in forests or far removed from major islands.
According to him, the Ministry of Public Works has agreed to carry out SPPG construction, while the Home Affairs Ministry is responsible for preparing the land or sites.
"The Public Works Ministry is set to build SPPGs in 264 out of 806 locations that have been deemed feasible. Meanwhile, the task to construct kitchens in the remaining 542 sites is delegated to the BGN. It is possible to partner with local governments or other stakeholders," Karnavian elaborated.
He emphasized his ministry's commitment to giving its utmost in this cause and stressed the importance of the BGN setting standards for all processes linked to the MBG program, including the recruitment of workers for SPPGs.
For his part, BGN Head Dadan Hindayana reported that as many as 8,344 SPPGs had been established nationwide. To expand coverage to 3T regions, the agency is collaborating with local governments, the military, Islamic organization Muhammadiyah, and business associations.
The MBG program aims to cater to the nutritional needs of 83 million schoolchildren, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers across the country.
