CARACAS, (Reuters) – Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has launched a wave of state-backed social programmes in the run-up to an October presidential election.
The leftist leader insists they are simply another step in his efforts to eradicate poverty in the OPEC member nation, but opposition critics say he is using state coffers to shore up support and extend his 13-year rule.
The following are the most important social programmes, or “missions”, created or expanded in recent months:
ASSISTANCE TO SENIOR CITIZENS:
In repeated TV appearances surrounded by grateful elderly Venezuelans, Chavez in December launched a programme called “The Greatest Love” to provide pensions equivalent to minimum wage, or around $360 a month, to poor senior citizens. State media have been full of ads for the effort featuring a slow “bolero” theme styled on music often favored by grandmas and grandpas. Recipients are heard personally thanking Chavez.
“Get us more information – wherever there is a single Venezuelan without a pension, tell us, tell me, because justice must be done!” Chavez exhorted one crowd of seniors.
Many Venezuelan seniors have struggled to get pensions even though in many cases they spent decades working.
Some are victims of unscrupulous companies that withheld social security taxes for years but never made the corresponding payments. Close to a million people have registered for the program, which is available to women over 55 and men over 60.
STIPENDS FOR POOR CHILDREN:
Also created in December, the “Children of Venezuela” mission offers the equivalent of $100 per month for each child under 17 belonging to poor families.
The stipend also applies to pregnant women in poverty and low-income handicapped people of all ages.
In vast queues at registration points, nearly a million families have signed up to receive benefits. The government expects to spend a combined total of $10 billion this year on the programs for low-income children and senior citizens.
Though widely applauded in poor areas, some middle-class critics of Chavez say “Children of Venezuela” encourages dependency and could lead to an increase in teenage pregnancies.
HOUSING:
The Chavez administration is stepping up construction of homes to address a decades-old housing deficit that worsened in 2010 following floods that left more than 100,000 homeless.
CARACAS, (Reuters) – Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has launched a wave of state-backed social programmes in the run-up to an October presidential election.
The leftist leader insists they are simply another step in his efforts to eradicate poverty in the OPEC member nation, but opposition critics say he is using state coffers to shore up support and extend his 13-year rule.
The following are the most important social programmes, or “missions”, created or expanded in recent months:
ASSISTANCE TO SENIOR CITIZENS:
In repeated TV appearances surrounded by grateful elderly Venezuelans, Chavez in December launched a programme called “The Greatest Love” to provide pensions equivalent to minimum wage, or around $360 a month, to poor senior citizens. State media have been full of ads for the effort featuring a slow “bolero” theme styled on music often favored by grandmas and grandpas. Recipients are heard personally thanking Chavez.
“Get us more information – wherever there is a single Venezuelan without a pension, tell us, tell me, because justice must be done!” Chavez exhorted one crowd of seniors.
Many Venezuelan seniors have struggled to get pensions even though in many cases they spent decades working.
Some are victims of unscrupulous companies that withheld social security taxes for years but never made the corresponding payments. Close to a million people have registered for the program, which is available to women over 55 and men over 60.
STIPENDS FOR POOR CHILDREN:
Also created in December, the “Children of Venezuela” mission offers the equivalent of $100 per month for each child under 17 belonging to poor families.
The stipend also applies to pregnant women in poverty and low-income handicapped people of all ages.
In vast queues at registration points, nearly a million families have signed up to receive benefits. The government expects to spend a combined total of $10 billion this year on the programs for low-income children and senior citizens.
Though widely applauded in poor areas, some middle-class critics of Chavez say “Children of Venezuela” encourages dependency and could lead to an increase in teenage pregnancies.
HOUSING:
The Chavez administration is stepping up construction of homes to address a decades-old housing deficit that worsened in 2010 following floods that left more than 100,000 homeless.
