The Bolsa Família Program and the increase of poverty rates in the Norte Pioneiro of Paraná

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic intensified hunger conditions, since the virus did not only affect the health services sector in Brazil, but also the country’s economic activities, turning millions of Brazilians unemployed workers and putting them in a situation of extreme poverty and, therefore, having hunger issues. The research we present here addresses the increase of the amount of people on hunger conditions at the Norte Pioneiro region of the state of Paraná during the pandemic year of 2020. Methodological tools used in the research included bibliographical review, data collection from governmental agencies, data collection from secondary sources, using of SIG tools and the elaboration of equations to determine the amount of people included in the Bolsa Família welfare program, as well as the amount of citizens included in the emergency handout Auxílio Emergencial. In 2020, the Norte Pioneiro region of Paraná summed up 554,119 inhabitants, from which – according to the Brazilian Ministry of Citizenry – 87,324 people received support from the Bolsa Família program, a total of 1.75% of the region’s population. The most pressing issue is that 87,155 families were enrolled in the Cadastro Único, meaning about 287,612 inhabitants of Norte Pioneiro, totaling 51.90% of the region’s population living under the minimum wage level. Specific governmental policies relating to eliminating poverty and hunger should be the main priority in Brazil, and should be focused on elevating the income of the poorest people.