Jobless Romanians get welfare goats

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 a collection of villages in southeastern Romania, the Independenta district, where unemployed families instead will receive 10 goats each.

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 $24 a month a head are eligible for assistance of up to $80 a month from their local council, which receives funds from the central government. Independenta has a population of just over 3,000 and unemployment of 8%. "We have 30 families that qualify for aid, but there are no rules on what form that aid takes," Mr. Gascan said. "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.