Política de habitação rural no Maranhão: da moradia camponesa à “casa do governo”

Abstract

This dissertation aims to analyze the implications of a housing program conducted by the state government on peasant’s way of live and production in the town of Pequizeiro, Belágua (MA). Through a literature review on concepts about peasantry, peasant’s way of life, and history of rural housing policies conducted by the State, a theoretical ground was developed in order to understand the empirical field. It was hypothesized that the housing program conducted by the state government offers reduced possibilities of participation to the beneficiary residents, besides ignoring their ways of living. In Pequizeiro, the territory’s production was illustrated; how the inhabitants organize themselves in productive activities; how they build and occupy their houses; which knowledge they use in their housing’s constructions. During the program’s implementation, it was sought to verify how the government agents engaged the beneficiaries in the process, how the community received the new houses, and which values were assigned to them. In conclusion, it has been understood that the beneficiaries associate the masonry house to values such as safety and stability, although they question timorously its dimensions and typology. It was understood also that the new house, build with distinct materials then those that they are used to, may jeopardize the beneficiaries autonomy in the house’s maintenance. It was concluded that the program has potential to improve the life quality of its beneficiaries, and the state government is sensitive to adjustments, but still fails in not providing more autonomy in the construction process. As a suggestion, works of technical guidance committed to empower the peasants, in order to guarantee that they can seize the benefits, besides researches about how to qualify traditional construction techniques, may be alternative solutions to generate more autonomy and quality in rural housing’s programs.