German state premier seeks Yunus' advice on state policy

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The Prime Minister of Thuringen state of Germany has sought nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus' advice on state policy concerning introduction of a welfare programme promoted by some leading economists, reports UNB.
During a meeting convened by Prime Minister Dieter Althaus on June 6, Nobel Laureate Yunus discussed the proposed policy of guaranteed basic income for the state of Thuringen with Gotz Werner of Karlsruhe University and Suplicy of São Paulo University, Brazil.
Gotz and Suplicy, both proponents of guaranteed basic income, have been working with the Government of Thuringen for adopting this policy for the state, according to a delayed message received in Dhaka Friday.
The founder of Grameen Bank argued that welfare systems were important for those in distress, but these should be designed in a way that give incentives.
He said traditional welfare kept people trapped, as if in a zoo. Yunus made it clear that he was against any kind of handout programme, and advised that the issue for the state government should not be providing guaranteed basic income, rather it should be to consider a programme of guaranteed employment for the unemployed.
He proposed that the unemployed people should be given a choice between receiving guaranteed employment or micro-credit, or receiving both.
Later in the day, Yunus was in University of Karlsruhe on the invitation of the president of the university to deliver a public lecture on Grameen Bank and poverty.
He addressed an audience of 1,200 in the overflowing main auditorium of the Karlsruhe University, one of the top three educational institutions in Germany.
Yunus joined musicians Bono, Bob Geldof, German singer Herbert Gronemeyer, Youssou N'Dour and other artistes from around the world at a peaceful protest concert in Rostock, outside Heiligendamm, to coincide with the start of the G8 Talks on June 7.
The celebrities and activists participated at a press conference in which they called upon the G8 leaders to keep the promises that have been made by the industrialised nations to the poor countries.