Brasília, December 4, 2002 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - At a meeting in the Planalto Palace to present a balance sheet for programs in the social protection network, president Fernando Henrique Cardoso said that 36,634,173 social benefits were created in his administration, at a total cost of R$ 30.7 billion (US$ 8.4 billion). These benefits include the Income Allowance, Minimum Lifetime Income, continuous benefits, retirement benefits, rural pensions, and unemployment insurance.

According to Cardoso, these actions in themselves refute the criticisms of those who insist that income distribution is not occurring in the country. "Income distribution is indeed occurring, the numbers show this, and income tax is currently transferred directly to the poorest people," the president guaranteed. (DAS)