Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) is aiming to establish 96 kitchens that will provide free nutritious meals for elementary, junior high, and high school students across Indonesia."Hopefully, soon, maybe within a few months, we can set up these 96 kitchens," Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Ali announced while observing the distribution of nutritious meals at public high school SMA 1 Hang Tuah in Cipulir, here on Tuesday.
Ali said that the plan to establish 96 kitchens is aimed at supporting the government's program to supply nutritious food to children across the country.
To build these kitchens, the Indonesian Navy will work with the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) to ensure that the facilities meet the necessary standards.
Additionally, BGN will monitor the daily food processing in the kitchens.
The meals will adhere to the budget set by the government, including the cost budget of Rp10 thousand to Rp15 thousand per meal. The budget comprises Rp5 thousand for operational costs and Rp10 thousand for food.
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Currently, the Indonesian Navy is operating kitchens at 10 locations across Indonesia, including one at the Naval Staff and Command School (Seskoal) in Cipulir. Admiral Ali expressed the hope that the remaining 86 kitchens will be built soon.
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According to the navy, the kitchen at Seskoal can produce up to three thousand lunch portions daily. It is staffed by 47 cooks from Seskoal and the local community.
The lunches prepared by the kitchen are distributed to eight nearby schools, but there is scope for expanding to more schools in the future.
