Citizenship and Bolsa Familia

This article shows and argues findings in Bolsa Familia Program, in Brazil. Beneficiaries have lived in Grajau, high vulnerability area in Sao Paulo city. Study has aimed investigate if program offers better material conditions of live and a positive access to public services, improving citizenship experience. Citizenship is defined by Marshall and Fleury as equal access to take a part in rights and collective heritage.

Brazilian social protection system was institutionalized in 1930 and just some Brazilians had access to social rights. Brazilians who worked on rural areas and informal labor market could not have access to social protection. It is necessary to salient most were informal or rural labors. So there was secession: people protected and non-protected.

Martins shows public service are divided, there was a group of elite public servants, who worked on important areas, were professionals, clientelism not influenced them. But the most Brazilian public servants were not qualified workforce and clientelism influenced them. Poor people were attended by not qualified workforce.

In 1988, a new Federal Constitution gave new and democratic principles, social system was transformed and social rights were universalized. Bolsa Família Program was created in 2003 as consequence from these new principles.

This study has investigated if Bolsa Familia can contribute to increase access to take rights. We have interviewed beneficiaries about employment conditions and taking rights experiences.

Findings reveal positive effects. People are less vulnerable but they are exposed to precarious employment conditions and to a lot of non-legal experiences. Beneficiaries reveal negative aspects of Bolsa Familia. They have no information and how long they can be beneficiaries. Public servants cannot explain well rights and rules. We can observe Bolsa Familia can enlarge opportunities but there are still obstacles to access to take rights because public service is not so efficient and democratic.