Jakarta DPRD Commission E Member, Farah Savira says the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program that has started is very beneficial for school children in Jakarta.

This nutritious meal is a motivation to encourage our children to go to school

According to her, this program helped the community in fulfilling the nutrition of children who were still growing.

"This nutritious meal is a motivation to encourage our children to go to school and also reduces the burden of costs incurred by each family to prepare lunch for their children," she expressed, Wednesday (1/8).

She appreciated the program initiated by President, Prabowo Subianto. In Jakarta, there were already four Nutrition Fulfillment Service units (SPPG) spread across several locations, such as Halim, Susukan Ciracas, Palmerah, and Pulogebang Cakung.

"Each SPPG distributes to several schools, for instance in Halim, it distributes to eight schools and it distributes to nine schools in Ciracas, so on average from 8 to 13 schools. The benefits received are usually around 3000 students in each SPPG," she explained.

To measure the effectiveness of the program, she suggested conducting regular surveys. This survey is important to see changes in children's health conditions before and after participating in the program.

"For instance, since the Free Nutritious Meals are provided, a survey is conducted to see the current condition of the children in terms of their physical, mental and emotional health, thus we can assess the effectiveness of this program," she explained.

Through this program, she hoped that children's nutrition could be met. However, she also suggested that the provision of MBG food menus be in demand by children, thus students could reduce their desire to buy unhealthy foods.

"If these children have received nutritious food that is filling and delicious for them, it will reduce their desire to buy snacks that are less nutritious and less beneficial," he stated.