BRASILIA, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian government will prioritize professional training in infrastructure and tourism to Bolsa Familia beneficiaries so they can be employed in the Program to Accelerate Growth (PAC) and preparation for the 2014 World Cup.

    Minister of Social Development and Fight against Hunger (MDS) Patrus Ananias told local press Wednesday that the courses will be offered through the program "Next Step" (Proximo Passo), coordinated by MDS, in partnership with other ministries.

    Ananias also said that the government's priority is to give more attention to "talent and potential of regional development" of the places where these works will be carried out.

    The inclusion of these professionals is possible, believes Ananias, since beneficiaries undergo proper training and companies in charge of works become aware of the opportunity in developing these areas.

    The minister also stressed the integration of Bolsa Family to grant programs to support family farming and micro-credit. From his point of view, the main goal of these programs is to ensure the autonomy of the beneficiaries.

    "We're always looking forward to linking our most important program in Brazil, Bolsa Familia, to emancipatory programs, which enable beneficiary families to walk with their own two feet, finding better work conditions, employment and income."

    These measures allowing the autonomy of Bolsa Familia beneficiaries seem to be a response to one of the most severe criticism of the program that its character would be patronizing.

    According to the program, family households with income amounting less than 140 reais (80 U.S. dollars) per capita receive an assistance of up to 200 reais (115 dollars) a month.

    To access the benefit, the family must keep children in school, take care of their health and maintain the registration updated with information about income, address and children's school.

    MDS informed that the government started offering training courses for 40,000 beneficiaries in tourism and construction in 2009, and half a million were alphabetized between 2006 and 2007. In addition, about 287,000 people received loans to develop productive activities.

    In 2009, 12,400 million reais (7,130 million dollars) were paidin Bolsa Familia benefits for one million three hundred thousand families.