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Thousands Sickened by Jokowi's Free Meal Program
4 Sep
Summary
- Around 2,000 students fell ill from free government-provided lunches.
- Indonesia's human rights body urged police to investigate outbreaks.
- The free meal program aims to eradicate malnutrition among students.
Thousands of Indonesian students and teachers have fallen ill this week due to food poisoning linked to a government-sponsored free meal program. Approximately 2,000 individuals across at least two major islands experienced sickness after eating lunches provided under President Prabowo Subianto's initiative to eradicate malnutrition.
The Indonesian human rights body, Komnas HAM, has called for a police investigation into these outbreaks, emphasizing that access to safe food is a fundamental human right. They also recommended suspending the kitchens allegedly responsible for the contamination.
Recent incidents include 170 students falling ill in South Sulawesi, following over 1,700 cases reported in Central Java, East Java, and West Sumatra. Lawmaker Charles Honoris stated that as of September 1, 50,000 people had been affected by food poisoning. Public confidence in the program is reportedly low, with a recent poll indicating dissatisfaction primarily due to these safety concerns.
