Governnment backpeddles on benefits after student protests

The Executive  has back-peddled on a week old decree and once again included those under 25 years of age, who are dependents, in the program to receive the digital voucher in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The reconsideration decree. was issued on Friday, December 11.

The original exclusion measure provoked a strong reaction from groups of young people, especially university students, who demanded in the streets the right to continue being part of the solidarity plan

 The protests of the young people were repressed by the National Police, who arrested 27 people. The police action was described by various sectors as police abuse.

Now, a week later,  this group of young people will be allowed to collect the digital voucher, whose value is $100, redeemable in supermarkets.

“This Government evaluates its actions and reconsiders them in cases where it finds them prudent, reasonable, and valid, so in that sense, we are restoring said benefit to about 125,000 students who attend official universities,” said the Minister of Social Development María Inés Castillo.