President Prabowo Subianto’s initiatives, including Free Nutritious Meals (MBG), People’s School (Sekolah Rakyat), and the Merah Putih Village/Urban Cooperatives (Kopdes), are being compared to “express lanes” aimed at speeding up poverty eradication efforts. These programs have the potential to generate numerous job opportunities and enhance economic independence. The goal is not only to alleviate poverty but to empower individuals and promote self-reliance, according to the Head of the Poverty Eradication Acceleration Agency (BP Taskin), Budiman Sudjatmiko.
Using a football analogy, Budiman explained that the poor are the players, and President Prabowo wants to equip them with skills, knowledge, proper nutrition, and economic access. The government’s role is to facilitate the smooth movement of the ball from defense to offense until the ultimate “goal” of eradicating poverty is achieved. Sekolah Rakyat, a boarding-based education program, is designed to break the cycle of poverty, while MBG and Kopdes Merah Putih offer economic benefits to entire communities. These initiatives are expected to create millions of jobs, benefiting various sectors such as farmers, SMEs, and village-owned enterprises.
Deputy Head of BP Taskin, Nanik S. Deyang, emphasized that these programs provide tangible hope for independence to poor households. Boarding schools remove children from limiting environments, while MBG’s operations have positive effects on local producers. For example, a small tofu-and-tempeh factory that supplies MBG kitchens may significantly increase its workforce. Similarly, Kopdes Merah Putih helps eliminate costly middlemen from supply chains, ensuring fair prices for essential items like LPG cylinders and fertilizers. Additionally, the cooperatives offer accessible credit options, freeing individuals from exploitative lenders and providing capital on more favorable terms than traditional banks.
