Paraguay to subsidize poor families

Paraguayan Social Action Secretary's Office (SAS) authorities ratified on Friday the government intention to subsidize more than 100,000 families that live in abject poverty.

The program to assist the people in the mentioned social sector will cover the most vulnerable demarcations in the South American nation, including some neighbourhoods of this capital.

Under the name of Humanitarian Transferences with Joint Responsibilities, the initiative will benefit the homes with disabled people or those with children or elderly people as the family majority.

The plan's Director Estela Garcia said 80 percent of the budget to make the 3 project feasible, comes from the SAS funds and the rest from a Chinese donation.

Those benefited will have to guarantee, in return, attendance of minors to schools and their participation in basic literacy teaching programs for adults, among other requirements.

The Executive's objective is to create productive strategies that break the poverty cycle, said the Paraguayan official.

Paraguay's President Fernando Lugo admitted the need to channel a more efficient government administration that responds to the great social demands that have been historically neglected.

Later, he defended creation of a new Constitution, which supports radical social changes in the justice system and the country's agricultural organization.

- PrensaLatina