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Indonesia weighs over $2 billion cut to free meals program
Jakarta is also pausing the rollout of 13,000 new kitchens as part of efficiency measures, leaving operators unable to start work despite permits.
Indonesia is considering cutting more than US$2 billion from President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship free meals programme, a move that could reduce both the number of beneficiaries and the number of kitchen operators, according to Reuters coverage cited by SCMP Economy.
The National Nutrition Agency plans to temporarily halt adding 13,000 new kitchens as it rolls out efficiency measures. There are currently nearly 28,000 kitchens supporting the scheme.
During a parliamentary hearing, three associations of kitchen operators told lawmakers that members had already invested in their facilities and obtained operating permits, but could not begin operations because of the moratorium.
Kitchen Partners Associations representative Yusuf Supriadi said the permits were approved but the kitchens still could not operate, adding that the operators will consider legal action if their money is not returned or they cannot start running the kitchens.