Brazil launches scheme to lift millions out of poverty

[Judi Lynn]

2 June 2011 Last updated at 10:57 ET
Brazil launches scheme to lift millions out of poverty

Brazil has launched a welfare scheme to lift millions out of extreme poverty by 2014, which President Dilma Rousseff calls her government's key priority.

The project aims to build on current programmes, which are credited with raising 20 million Brazilians out of poverty over the past decade.

Brazil's economic growth has led to an overall increase in living standards.

But some 16 million people still live in extreme poverty, defined as having 70 reais ($44; £27) or less a month.

More:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-13626951

[gbscar]

1. Brazil has already made good progress in this direction, but more of it is certainly welcome. (nt)