The government of Peru, where over half the population scrapes by on $1.25 a day, said on Thursday it was planning a program of state handouts that would double the monthly income of up to 3 million of the country's poorest. "There is too much hunger, too many people who are not vaccinated (against disease), too many children who don't go to school, too many people without work. We have to help," Prime Minister Carlos Ferrero told a news conference. The plan, modeled on others across Latin America, was unveiled as Peru's government enters its last 17 months in office. It would pay around $30 a month per family with a monthly income of up to $37, provided children were inoculated and went to school. --SP 0001 Local Time 2101 GMT
