Bolivia School Breakfast Program: Four-Month Delay Sparks Outrage

Santa Cruz School Breakfast Program Faces Four-Month Delay Amidst Budget Concerns School children in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, have been without their daily breakfast for four months due to delays in the government's school breakfast program. The program, mandated by law 622 to provide uninterrupted meals from the first to the last day of classes, has been significantly impacted by apparent mismanagement of funds. A local representative, interviewed by El Deber Radio, expressed outrage at the situation, saying, "...the mayor, having the budget, has been negligent in the tendering process and has mocked our schoolchildren for four months of this year." The initial budget for the program was 170 million Bolivianos. However, a new tender is now underway for almost 100 million Bolivianos, raising serious questions about where the remaining funds have gone. The reporter emphasizes the impact on the children, highlighting the emotional distress caused by the lack of this crucial nutritional support. This delay underscores the need for increased transparency and accountability in the management of public funds allocated for essential social programs.