Humanity Injustice in the Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG) Program

Abstract

The ideal of social justice mandated by the fifth principle of Pancasila remains challenged by persistent inequality, uneven access to welfare, and gaps between public policy objectives and their implementation in Indonesia. The Free Nutritious Meals (Makan Bergizi Gratis, or MBG) Program represents an important case for examining whether state welfare policies have realised substantive social justice or merely administrative distribution. This study aims to critically analyse the relevance and actualisation of Pancasila’s fifth principle through a philosophical examination of the MBG Program as a manifestation of the relationship between the state and citizens. This research employs a qualitative approach using literature review and policy discourse analysis by examining academic works, philosophical perspectives, and public policy discussions related to social justice, humanity, and the MBG Program. The findings reveal that the MBG Program reflects a gap between the normative ideals of social justice and policy practices, particularly in terms of accountability, public participation, and protection of human dignity. The study further shows that social justice cannot be reduced to the distribution of material benefits but must include ethical responsibility, recognition of citizens as active subjects, and participatory governance mechanisms. Therefore, this research argues that the realization of Pancasila-based social justice requires a transformation from administrative welfare policies toward justice-based governance that integrates humanity, accountability, and community participation as fundamental principles of public policy.