Brasília, 18 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - President Fernando Henrique Cardoso attributes improvements in social indicators to federal government action in states and municipals. Mayors in the over 5,000 Brazilian municipals receive R$30 billion (US$10.5 billion) annually for social programs. Cardoso added that the minimum wage has tripled in the 8 years of the Real Plan, and there was a reduction of poverty, down from 43% in 1994, to 30% in 2000, resulting in a direct improvement in the lives of some 50 million people.

Cardoso also cited progress in education and healthcare. In 1995, 10% of all school age children were not in school; this year that number will be close to zero. And the national infant mortality rate fell significantly, dropping from 48 per 1,000 in 1994, to 29.6 per 1,000 in 2000. (AB)