17-12-2023 (JAKARTA) The spokesperson for Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka’s campaign team, Burhanuddin Abdullah, revealed that their proposed free lunch and milk program could potentially cost Rp 1 trillion (US$64.46 million – RM302 million) per day. The ambitious initiative aims to provide meals and milk to a total of 82.9 million recipients and has the potential to generate employment opportunities for citizens.
During an event in Jakarta where volunteers expressed their recommendations for inclusion in Prabowo-Gibran’s programs if they were to win the 2024 presidential election, Burhanuddin emphasized the integrated nature of the suggested policies within the candidate pair’s programs.
Burhanuddin highlighted that the program would cater to a wide range of recipients, including 30 million toddlers, 44 million students from elementary to senior high school levels, 5 million pesantren (Islamic boarding school) students, and 3 million pregnant women. With such a significant number of beneficiaries, the estimated daily cost of the program is approximately Rp 1 trillion, amounting to Rp 300 trillion per year.
To implement the program, 45,000 new kitchens would need to be established, thereby creating numerous job opportunities. Burhanuddin further stated that Prabowo intended to recruit young graduates to oversee the program’s operations. Additionally, the campaign team plans to source food ingredients from local farmers, aiming to bolster local economic activities while simultaneously increasing job opportunities.
The free lunch and milk program proposed by Prabowo-Gibran demonstrates their commitment to addressing social welfare and education revitalization. While the estimated costs are substantial, the potential benefits in terms of food security, job creation, and support for local farmers are significant factors that have contributed to the program’s inclusion in their campaign agenda.
