TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Dadan Hindayana, Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), has detailed the reasons behind involving correctional institutions to support the management of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program. According to Dadan, prisons have adequate facilities and are located within communities, making them ideal hubs to support the program’s implementation.
"Prisons are institutions that have adequate facilities and are in the middle of the community. BGN feels assisted by this extraordinary initiative so that the program can run carefully," said Dadan when contacted on Friday, May 8, 2026.
Dadan identified Sukamiskin Prison in Bandung as a pioneer in the MBG rollout. He noted that the MBG kitchen at the facility has been undergoing trials since late 2024 and serves as one of the nutritional fulfillment units (SPPG) that officially began implementing the program on January 6, 2025.
Through the Sukamiskin pilot, the BGN has observed a positive psychological impact on the inmates involved in kitchen operations. "We see a positive effect on the inmates, as it provides them with a sense of purpose in serving others. They become more motivated to contribute to the community," Dadan remarked.
Despite using prison facilities, Dadan clarified that the actual management of the MBG kitchens remains under the purview of the foundation or the agency, similar to other MBG kitchen schemes. "Prisons are the host institutions providing the facilities. The management is still handled by the foundation, just like other units," he said.
Previously, Director General of Corrections Mashudi mentioned that 36 MBG kitchens located within prison areas are targeted to be operational by the end of May 2026. These kitchens are distributed across various regions in Indonesia and use a workforce comprising both inmates and professionals.
"We hope that by the end of May, they will all be operational. Currently, 18 are ready, with another 18 following, so a total of 36 kitchens have been constructed," Mashudi stated in Jakarta on Thursday, May 7, 2026, as quoted by Antara.
He explained that these kitchens are built within prison grounds, occupying both internal and external perimeters. The National Nutrition Agency reportedly covers land rental costs, which are categorized as Non-Tax State Revenue (PNBP). "They (BGN) contribute to PNBP; they are required to pay the land rent," Mashudi added.
In addition to providing the land, the Directorate General of Corrections also supplies inmate labor. Of the 46 workers assigned to each kitchen, 20 are inmates, while the remaining 26 are professionals.
Mashudi emphasized that the participating inmates undergo a selection and assessment process, including health screenings. "Each kitchen will have 46 workers: 26 professionals and 20 assessed inmates who are cleared to work in the kitchen to serve the MBG program," he concluded.
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