Central Papua – Residents of Homeyo District, Intan Jaya, Central Papua happily welcomed the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme initiated by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. They said they were happy because every day their children can enjoy healthy, nutritious meals with protein that they rarely get.
Yames Bagau, a father from an underprivileged family in Intan Jaya, Central Papua, recounted his life where he does not work but gardens. He said that his family used to rely on the harvest for cooking and daily side dishes. Chicken and fish are foods they rarely eat due to lack of money.
‘I don’t work, Bapak. I have a garden. I plant sweet potatoes, walnuts, vegetables, corn. Here, I usually eat sweet potato. Chicken and fish are one-offs. If we have money, we buy it and cook it,’ said Yames, a parent.
Similarly, Bagus Bagubau, a parent of a student at SDN Inpres Pogapa Intan Jaya, Central Papua, said that his family is used to eating sweet potatoes or beans that they grow in their garden.
‘Every day we work in the garden, trimming the grass, and building fences. We eat sweet potato vegetables with chickpeas,’ Bagus said.
They also thanked Prabowo for the complete menu served there and hoped that this programme could be sustainable.
‘I’m happy, sir. Eating healthy. Yes, children can eat well too. Eating [nutritious] food for free is healthy and delicious,’ Bagus said.
‘I have eaten nutritious food with my two children, there is fish, soup, fruit, milk and rice. That’s all we agreed earlier, yes, we want that, so it will be continued,’ added Yames.
‘Thank you Mr Prabowo for the free [nutritious] meal,’ he continued.
Meanwhile, the Free Nutritious Meal Programme in this district was implemented by Kogabwilhan III under the leadership of Lieutenant General Bambang Trisnohadi followed by the resumption of school activities. Food ingredients are obtained from residents’ crops and processed in a public kitchen.
This programme also aims to restore the security of Homeyo district, where the OPM was previously able to bring terror and burn down children’s schools. (RR)
