Belo Horizonte, March 19, 2004 (Agência Brasil) - President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva informed, yesterday (18), that expenditures on social policies this year will total US$ 2.1 billion (R$ 6.1 billion) and should benefit over six million poor families. Lula observed that, taking into account the growth of the economy, the goal is to attain around 11 million families by the end of his term of office, in 2006.

This information was provided during a ceremony at which the President handed over Family Grant Program card nº 50,000, in Belo Horizonte, and remarked on the government's investments in social programs. According to the President, around US$ 307 million (R$ 891 million) were spent on social policies in 2001. This figure jumped to US$ 689 million (R$ 2 billion) in 2002. Last year, the President said, US$ 1.482 billion (R$ 4.3 billion) were distributed. And in his second year in office, these resources will amount to US$ 2.1 billion (R$ 6.1 billion).

The President also announced that he intends to carry out a large housing investment program in the metropolitan regions of major Brazilian cities. He said that he will spend another US$ 1.034 billion (R$ 3 billion) on basic sanitation, apart from what is already allotted in this year's budget. "It is possible that there hasn't been this much money to invest in basic sanitation in the last ten years," the President affirmed.

Outside the Arts Palace, where the ceremony was held, a group of demonstrators displayed protest banners and shouted rallying cries. Policing was reinforced, but no incident occurred.

After the card delivery ceremony, President Lula attended the inauguration of a people's restaurant that will serve meals to poor people for the price of one real for lunch and 50 cents for supper. In his speech, the President emphasized the partnership between the government and entrepreneurs. The restaurant is the fruit of a partnership between the Belo Horizonte City Hall and the city's Coca-Cola plant.

Translator: David Silberstein