During his visit to Maldonado for the inauguration of two dependencies in San Carlos and La Capuera, the Minister of Social Development, Martín Lema, reported that 6,000 socially vulnerable households in that department were subsidized at the UTE rate, 700 families receive the Bono Crianza and 9,000 receive a family allowance. In addition, the objective of the Winter Plan is that there is no shortage of space, as in 2021, he added.
The inaugurations of two territorial offices of the Ministry of Social Development (Mides) in Maldonado, this Friday 6, respond to the strategy of that portfolio to expand social coverage and execute the monitoring of benefits, while detecting the needs of the users.
On the occasion, Lema was accompanied by the Undersecretary of Social Development, Andrea Brugman; the departmental coordinator of Mides, Magdalena Zumarán; the national director of Territorial Management, Alejandro Sciarra; and the mayor of Piriápolis, René Graña.
Lema highlighted the importance of expanding the presence of the State in these areas and reaching more people with social policies. “The territorial offices generate a greater closeness to different queries and proposals that arise from people, and this ends up in an improvement in attention,” he said.
He also referred to the agreement signed between Mides and UTE to discount the electricity rate for households with greater social vulnerability. In the case of Maldonado, this policy benefits some 6,000 households, who receive a bonus of up to 90%, he explained.
In that department, in addition, another 700 families receive the Bono Crianza. The benefit has been granted since January of this year to households with children from 0 to 4 years of age, in a vulnerable socioeconomic situation.
Regarding family allowances, he reported that, before January 2022, the benefit fell if the expected income limit was exceeded. “We define keeping it, even exceeding that limit,” he said, adding that in Maldonado some 9,000 households receive the benefit.
Likewise, he announced that this will be one of the three departments that will implement a pilot plan in the National Care System and one of the first where a mobile office will be installed.
In reference to the Winter Plan, he confirmed the opening of a contingency center with 50 available places, 10 new places in the Engineer Battalion No. 4 and other places in El Jagüel. The national presentation of the plan for this year will take place on May 10, he said.
