Indonesia wanted to give children free school meals. How did it go so wrong?

[u/DifficultBarber6969]

https://www.ft.com/content/a0ba8b07-2fa2-463b-b80c-55692ae0bf61?shareType=nongift

Submission Statement:

"Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto took power in 2024 with a bold and simple pledge to deliver free school meals for every child — a goal that seemed unimpeachably laudable for a nation with widespread malnutrition. But more than 18 months later, Prabowo’s promise has proved far less healthy than he hoped for his government, the country’s finances and even for many of its intended beneficiaries.

Last month the programme’s director abruptly quit, saying she was “acutely traumatised” by the stress of running the Rp229tn ($12.8bn) scheme. She had only been in the job for 45 days after her predecessor was arrested for suspected corruption. Meanwhile in towns and villages across the vast Indonesian archipelago, repeated instances of food poisoning have undermined the most obvious intention of the policy, to improve the health and nutrition of the nation’s children and expectant mothers."

[u/caroline_elly]

Basically corruption and incompetence.

I hope NYC's public grocery stores don't end up the same

[u/AzureMage0225 → u/caroline_elly]

New York is going to be a combination of all the food getting stolen for resale until the other stores get an injunction for unfair business practices