Brazil’s Ministry of Social Development and Hunger Alleviation, which currently distributes 6 million benefits through the Family Grant Program, plans to extend its activities to reach 2 million more families by the end of the year. To do so, US$ 2.2 billion (6 billion reais) in investments will be required.
This information was provided by the Ministry’s secretary of Institutional Relations and Partnerships, Heliana Kátia Campos, in a presentation at an international seminar on human rights held in the city of Recife, in Northeast Brazil.
The Family Grant is an income transfer program for families living in poverty, with a monthly income of up to US$ 37 (100 reais). The objective is to combat extreme poverty and social exclusion, encouraging the emancipation of poor families.
According to Campos, the Ministry also has projects in the area of productive inclusion for populations in rural settlements, Indians, residents of communities of descendants of runaway slaves, and trash collectors, in order to ensure training and income for these individuals.
The projects will be carried out in partnership with institutions such as the Micro and Small Business Support Service (Sebrae), Petrobras, and the Bank of Brazil.
The seminar brought together legislators, community leaders, and representatives of the government and non-governmental organizations. The participants proposed actions to promote citizenship, such as reducing hunger, violence, and discrimination.
Translation: David Silberstein
Agência Brasil