Within the S/241,000 million proposed by the Government of Dina Boluarte for the Initial Opening Budget (PIA) from 2024, only 3.4% of its structure goes to social protection.
They are S/9,307 million in total, S/1,497 million more than that proposed in the 2023 PIA: S/7,810 million (+19.2%). In addition, Julio Demartini, Minister of Development and Social Inclusion, highlighted the benefits of the budget statement for his portfolio: S/6,146 million —S/900 million more than in 2023— to channel the Government’s solutions to strengthen social assistance programs and the fight against poverty and anemia.
“More than 819,000 people over 65 years of age in extreme poverty will be served with S/250 every two months, and will cover all seniors on the waiting list. The gap in this social program is closing,” he said in the plenary session, although in the data shared by his portfolio they specify that coverage will only reach 85%.
He announced that more than 28,000 homes will be reached through Juntos Urbano and 718,575 homes in Juntos; as well as 4 million students with Qali Warma. The coverage of the Contigo program will also be raised from 31% to 42% and S/472 million will be injected for the Glass of Milk and S/233 million for the Popular Kitchens.
It is mere continuity
The principal researcher of the IEP, Carolina Trivelli, points out that in the face of the economic slowdown and high inflation, translated into the rise in multidimensional poverty, the budget supported by the Executive does not bring anything new.
“Except for some additional item in Juntos for families with pregnant mothers or minor children, there is nothing new. The problem is that poverty has changed. Its location has changed and its type is different. We need new instruments and more resources, although there is a little more, but it is to do more of the same,” he commented to La República. For example, Trivelli calls for pushing for Qali Warma to return to its original goal: ensuring that children eat a healthy lunch box, and not just handing it out.
On the other hand, with the S/89 million that the common pots would receive, they would barely have S/3.70 to finance a daily ration of food, which is why they require the midis raise the budget to S/158 million in favor of those most in need.
The numbers
- Seniors receive S/250 bimonthly from Pensión 65. Coverage would have risen to 85%.
- S/3.70 per serving of food would receive the common pots with the S/89 million proposed by the Executive.
- S/233 million will be injected into soup kitchens.
Source: Larepublica
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