Lula relaunches flagship family grants program

Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva presented on Thursday, the relaunch of his social welfare program, which gives payments to impoverished families in the country.

About 21 million families are expected to benefit from the 'Bolsa Familia' scheme and receive a base monthly payment of $115. Under new provisions, families will get additional amounts depending on their number of children and their ages, as well as an additional amount for pregnant women. The program had been a flagship of his previous governments, and helped tens of millions of people escape poverty.