Maranhão Government to Provide Free Gas Cylinders to 115,000 Low-Income Families

Maranhão Government Will Distribute Gas Cylinders to Low-Income Families and Provide Aid to Taxi Drivers, Motorcycle Taxi Drivers, and App Drivers

It was announced last Friday (26) by the current governor of Maranhão, Flávio Dino (PCdoB), that gas cylinders will be distributed to 115,000 low-income families in the state of Maranhão. The government had already created an aid of R$ 1,000 for restaurants and bars that had to close during the coronavirus pandemic.

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Government Affirms It Will Provide Support for Low-Income Families

The announcement was made during a press conference, in which the government also disclosed the expansion of aid for more sectors of the population. The registration will be drawn from the federal government’s Unified Registry and will be credited through cash assistance.

The governor announced fuel assistance for app drivers, taxi drivers, and motorcycle taxi drivers. The amount will range from R$ 60.00 to R$ 300.00, depending on certain regions of the state. 

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The amount will be announced through a provisional measure that the government will present, and it may increase, allowing for the inclusion of parliamentary amendments from state deputies. According to Governor Flávio Dino.

The distribution of the gas cylinder vouchers to low-income families will be coordinated by the Maranhão State Department of Social Development (SEDES), while fuel assistance for transportation categories will be managed by the Urban Mobility Agency (MOB). According to Governor Flávio Dino, all measures regarding the new aids will be published later today, through a provisional measure that the government will disclose.

Increase of Gas Cylinders in Brazil

At the beginning of this year, Petrobras had already announced a 6% increase for LPG, which was also corrected by 5% at the beginning of December last year. Gas cylinders ended last year with a price increase of 9.24% according to the National Consumer Price Index (IPCA), disclosed by IBGE. This represents more than double the general inflation recorded in 2020, which was 4.52%.

President Jair Bolsonaro stated that the companies selling gas cylinders are “powerful cartels” and that the price of gas cylinders will only decrease with “a gun in hand.”

The comment was made to supporters in front of the Palácio do Planalto. “Kitchen cylinders are expensive, averaging R$90. The price at origin is less than R$40, and the federal tax (on the product) is R$0.70… no, if I’m not mistaken, it’s R$0.16. So, it doesn’t justify reaching R$90. They are powerful cartels, with money, with billions against me,” said President Bolsonaro.

Low Income in Maranhão

According to IBGE, Maranhão has the highest number of low-income people. About 54.1% of the people in Maranhão live on less than R$ per month, which is considered the amount set by the survey.

Also according to IBGE, in addition to low income, more than 81% of residents in Maranhão do not have adequate basic sanitation, compared to a national average of 35.9% of the population. Furthermore, 32.7% of people do not have access to direct or indirect garbage collection, and 29.2% do not have water supply. About 3% of the population lives with no income in the state. 24.3% live with an income of a quarter to half a minimum wage (considered low income), while another 27.4% live with an income between half and one minimum wage in the state.