The announcement was made this Wednesday (13), in a meeting with state and municipal managers from the department. Transfers start next week

More than R$ 700 million will be transferred by the Ministry of Citizenship by the end of the month for Social Assistance. The announcement was made during a meeting with state and municipal secretaries in Brasília, this Wednesday (13). R$ 200 million will fall into municipal accounts next week. Furthermore, the decontingency made by the Ministry of Economy, after the pre-salt auction, guarantees around R$ 500 million for the Payment of services from the Unified Social Assistance System (Suas).

For the Special Secretary for Social Development, Lelo Coimbra, the transfers demonstrate the Ministry's commitment to regularizing the situation with states and municipalities, where direct assistance to the most vulnerable occurs. “The federal government, committed to Social Assistance actions, fully defunded the resources that needed to be released. This is important because it establishes a degree of mutual trust with states and municipalities; second, it shows the Ministry's commitment to looking for solutions by negotiating with the Economy and working with Congress”, he pointed out.

According to the executive secretary of the Ministry of Citizenship, Ana Pellini, given the situation that emerged with the scarcity of resources, the transfer is a moment to be celebrated. “These are important achievements that were only achieved at this time of year. In the end, what is important is that the money reaches the municipalities to serve those who need it most. It’s a scenario we’ve been looking for for a long time,” he said.

The National Secretary of Social Assistance, Mariana Neris, reinforced the department's commitment to strengthening the Unified Social Assistance System (Suas). “What we did today was to present that these measures will take social assistance until the end of the year so that the municipalities recognize that the system remains standing, that we are here to strengthen the Social Assistance System in the country”, he highlighted. The Special Assistant Secretary for Social Development, Neusa Kempfer, also participated in the meeting.

The transfers from the Ministry of Citizenship comply with Ordinance No. 36, of 2014, of the National Social Assistance Council, which determines priority for municipalities that have a lower account balance. During the meeting, it was also informed that a Project of law, in the National Congress, which would guarantee R$ 750 million to the sector for 2019. In addition to the announcement and forecast of more funds for this year, those present at the meeting also discussed the increase in new values for the 2020 budget.

Repercussion

For the state secretary of Social Development of Minas Gerais, Elizabeth Jucá, the news is a relief. “The situation was getting very difficult in that we are experiencing service closures, teams not being complete due to lack of funding. This gives us relief to talk to the municipalities to reconstitute the teams, so that we can carry out our work. We give a lot of hope for next year, so that the budget can be restored”, he stated.

The president of the National Collegiate of Municipal Social Assistance Managers (Congemas) and secretary of Social Assistance for the municipality of São Luís do Maranhão, Andréia Lauande, evaluates the announced transfer positively and emphasizes that work with parliamentarians must continue. “This return given today by the Ministry is a collective effort by the Ministry and the strength of the municipalities in hand-to-hand contact with parliamentarians. This is indeed a relief, but it also shows the need for continuity of services. It is a process that requires permanent action from us”, he assessed.

By André Luiz Gomes

Communication consultancy
Ministry of Citizenship

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