Soldiers Undernourished: Deputy Pushes for Better Funding

On April 2, 2025, Majilis Deputy Aigul Kuspan called for an immediate revision of the military ration allowance, which, despite repeated appeals, Orda.kz reports.

Even though back in 2016, a joint order of four security agencies approved the methodology for calculating the cost of food rations for military personnel, the rates are only updated after repeated appeals from deputies,Kuspan said. 

The last adjustment came two years ago — from 1,713 to 2,250 tenge per soldier.

However, Kuspan argues that even according to the existing (and largely ignored) methodology, the real cost should be closer to 3,150 tenge.

How can we ensure quality nutrition with such a deficit?she said. 

According to regulations, soldiers are supposed to receive 48 types of food daily — including meat, vegetables, and fruit. However, suppliers often swap real ingredients for cheaper alternatives due to tight budgets.

Rennet cheese is replaced with processed cheese products, milk with milk substitutes, and butter with spreads that cost far less than natural products,Kuspan explained. 

This is already taking a toll. In 2024 alone, over 30 tons of substandard food were returned to suppliers, and violations of contract terms rose by 46%.

From August 2024 to January 2025, three mass food poisonings of military personnel were recorded: 39 servicemen in Temirtau, 20 in the Saryozek garrison, and 40 in Shymkent.Kuspan recalled. 

Law enforcement agencies and food suppliers have repeatedly asked the government to revise ration costs.

Kuspan has said that at least 10.2 billion tenge is needed to fix the issue in 2025. Of this, the Ministry of Defense could reallocate 7.5 billion from its current budget. Funding needs to be reviewed immediately, the Deputy insisted

She also urged that food budgeting be automatically adjusted for inflation and called for tighter food quality monitoring.

It’s not just about increasing the budget — it’s crucial to make sure the allocated funds actually reach the soldiers. Oversight of food provision must be transparent, efficient, and consistent. This requires involving public organizations like the Soldiers' Mothers Council ‘Hearts of Mothers’ and introducing automated monitoring systems,Kuspan stressed 

Whether anyone will be held accountable remains unclear, especially considering that past incidents, including suicides among military personnel, have resulted in little more than formal reprimands for top officials.

Original Author: Zhadra Zhulmukhametova