Jakarta, Feb. 20 -- The free nutritious meals program may prompt the Indonesian government to increase the allocation of village funds, according to National Economic Council (DEN) Chairperson Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan.

The current scheme allocates Rp1.1 billion (nearly US$110,500) in village funds to each village annually.

"However, we might raise this amount to between Rp6 billion and Rp8 billion per village following the implementation of the free meals program," Luhut stated on Thursday.

He indicated that the projected increase in fund allocation could lead to significant improvements in the economic conditions of rural areas and their residents.

"You can imagine how this anticipated increase will stimulate economic growth and enhan...