Jobless Romanians get welfare goats !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Daanyeer]

Source: Telegraph
May 21, 2007 Author: Carmiola Ionescu


Jobless Romanians are to be given goats instead of welfare benefits as part of a scheme to make them contribute more to the economy.

Under the pilot project, welfare benefits are to be axed from September in the Independenta district, a collection of villages in south-eastern Romania, where unemployed families will instead each receive 10 goats.

They will be expected to milk the animals and sell milk and cheese to earn an income, and when they find work, they will have to return the goats to the local council.

The scheme has been set up by the council's campaigning mayor, Cristea Gascan, who said: "We have 30 families that are on benefits, and just paying them cash does not help them or us. But with goats they are making a positive contribution to the economy and will be working instead of sitting at home expecting handouts."

Under Romanian law, unemployed people who can demonstrate an income of less than £12 per month per head are eligible for assistance of up to £40 a month from their local council, which receives funds from central government.

Independenta has a population of just over 3,000 and unemployment of 8 per cent. "We have 30 families that qualify for aid, but there are no rules on what form that aid takes," he said. "We have large areas of rich common ground here in Independenta, more than enough to keep the goats on.

"We are thinking about their own good when we do this. Ten premium goats will go to all the families entitled to benefits and any who refuse will not be offered any cash alternative - after all, it will mean they are turning down work and that is a reason to stop their benefits. It is the goats, or nothing."

Mr Gascan said all families receiving the goats will have to pay a "tax" of three kids a year to the city hall. An inspector will be appointed to make sure the goats are not mistreated, sold or eaten by those entrusted with their care, and Mr Gascan plans to take 10 goats himself to show others how much can be made from the scheme.

Suliman Visel, 22, who is unemployed and was the first to sign up for the goats, said: "I want to work and the goats will be good for me and my family. They will help me feed myself and my two children and will bring more than the welfare money we had."

But Marin Vasile, 28, also out of work, said: "I do not want to hear anything again about any goats. If they give me goats I will take them to the mayor and make him look after them."

[DEMOLITION MAN]

hahahahaha man do i enjoy reading your broken news , but am wondering where you get these from !!