Panorama do programa bolsa família no município de Laranjeiras do Sul – PR, em 2016

Abstract

The Bolsa Família Program (PBF) is a conditional income transfer program created to assistpoor and extremely poor families in Brazil. Through the conditionalities of the program, beneficiaries' individual needs are expected to be reduced. The objective of the present study is to outline an overview of the Bolsa Família Program in the municipality of Laranjeiras do Sul, highlighting the changes in the 2016 beneficiaries’living conditions, using as sample families residing in the neighborhood named Presidente Vargas. To achieve this objective, a descriptive, documentary research was carried out. This study was based on the three-dimensional structure-process-results methodology, focusing only on results, which renders possible to evaluate the achievement of the program’s objectives. In order to obtain the data, observations and interviews wereconducted at the place of study. Interviews were carried out using semi-structured questionnaires with open and closed questions addressed to the program municipal supervisors, the ACS, merchants and beneficiary families. Municipal data were also used in the analysis. The procedure of data collection and analysis is characterized as predominantly qualitative. The instruments used for data analysis were the software Sphinx (Demo V 5) and Windows Excel. Based on this analysis, the research found that the PBF, despite presenting some bottlenecks, guarantees the complementation of income, better quality of life and positive effects on local commerce. Furthermore, the State must keep constant observation to meet the demands of the population, investing in health, education and social assistance.