Residents protest Indonesia’s free school meals programme in Central Java

Residents in Tlogowungu district, Pati regency in Central Java have staged a protest against the government’s Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG) programme, raising concerns about the quality and distribution of the meals provided to students.

The demonstration on Friday, 26 February, took place outside the local Nutrition Fulfilment Service Unit (SPPG) Tlogowungu 1, which protesters described as a symbol of problems in the implementation of the programme in the area.

The protest was organised by a group calling itself the Alliance of United Tlogowungu Residents. Demonstrators first gathered at the Tlogorejo indoor sports hall, before marching roughly 500 metres to the SPPG office.

Although the rally remained peaceful, protesters delivered speeches criticising the programme and carried banners reading “Stop SPPG – Don’t turn it into a business” and “MBG is a breeding ground for corruption.”

Concerns over food quality

Some residents alleged that the meals distributed to schools did not match the standards expected from the government-funded initiative.

They said the quality, portion sizes and nutritional value of the food appeared inconsistent with the programme’s budget.

Parents and students have reportedly complained about the meals, with some choosing not to eat them.

“Many families feel the programme here looks more like a food-selling operation than a genuine nutrition initiative,” one representative of the protesters said during the rally.

“Aspiration like this is delivered peacefully. We want children’s nutrition programmes to run properly, not just as a formality.”

Calls for government review

The MBG programme is one of the Indonesian government’s flagship social policies, designed to improve child nutrition by providing free meals to students across the country.

However, critics in Tlogowungu say the scheme could become wasteful or vulnerable to misuse if oversight is weak.

Protesters called on the government to conduct a comprehensive evaluation to ensure the programme delivers meaningful benefits to children.

Peaceful demonstration

Security officers from the Indonesian National Police and the Indonesian military monitored the protest around the Tlogorejo village office and the SPPG facility, but no incidents were reported.

The demonstration reflects growing public scrutiny of the MBG programme, which has been promoted by the government as a key effort to improve nutrition but has also faced criticism in some areas over its implementation.