ELETRIFICAÇÃO RURAL NO BAIXO-AMAZONAS: da concepção da Política às mudanças nas condições de vida dos idosos impactados pelo Programa “Luz para Todos”.

Abstract

The Plpt has been created to be a vector of development and articulating public policies for this purpose. In this sense, this work sought to identify the conditions and determinants of social impacts from the implementation of the Luz para Todos Program in the living conditions of the elderly in the Baixo-Amazonas Region. The purpose of the evaluation was to analyze the construction of the electrification policy in Brazil and Amazonas and verify dimensions that constitute the integrality of the living conditions of the elderly that could be impacted by the actions of rural electrification. The research followed the impact assessment methodology. A bibliographical, documentary and field research product had as its locus of study three rural communities: Santa Tereza do Matupiri, São Benedito and Maranhão Community, located in the municipalities of Barreirinha, Boa Vista do Ramos and Parintins, in the Amazonas State. The research pointed out that the Brazilian energy matrix is based on the conception of developmentalist ideology and that in the Amazon State, the expansion of the energy sector was identified with the process of modernization of cities and, later on, for productive and industrial use. As for the changes in the communities surveyed, education was a point of unanimity for the elderly, since electricity offered the opportunity of technological courses. Regarding production, there were no drastic changes to the increase. As for family and community coexistence, the rural electrification contributed to increase the nocturnal frequency activities. Regarding the level of consumption, access to electric power made it possible to purchase electrical and electronic appliances. Regarding the impacts of rural electrification on aging, we learn about that electricity: facilitates accessibility in spaces; Gives access to piped water; Brings well-being and comfort; Assists in food storage; The residential lighting favors the reduction of elderly falls (domestic accidents) and the acquisition of household appliances facilitates the daily activities. In this sense, rural electrification despite paradoxes has brought benefits to the elderly and changes in their living conditions have changed significantly. It was verified in the research that after the rural electrification in the communities surveyed, there was only the growth of the demand for electric energy and the energy supply per se, it did not only result in local development, because this depends an objective articulation with other policies.