Youth can transform world: Nobel laureate

Visakhapatnam: Nobel laureate Md Yunus asked citizens to note that they were born to do great things. “Everyone has hidden skills and talents which should be tapped and used at the right time,” he said.

He delivered a key note address at a three-day international seminar on ‘Social business for sustainable development’ being organised by Yunus Centre in association with Andhra University here on Thursday.

Speaking on the occasion, Yunus said that every youth should prepare for doing great things as they have the power to transform the world. He dwelled on how his efforts have reformed the lifestyle and functioning of rural people in Bangladesh.

“I was a 30-year-old teacher, when I noticed that the banks were giving loans to only rich. My idea of making a difference led to Grameen Banks,” he recalled.

The Nobel laureate informed that 90,000 women secured loans in last eight years, while the recovery rate is 99.5 per cent.

“The Grameen Bank has also reformed the mindset of the people to come out from the open-defecation menace besides extending financial help to provide higher education and use of solar energy,” he added.

HRD Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao observing that poverty was becoming a stumbling block for peace and development activities emphasised the need for cent per cent literacy to overcome the problem.

He informed that the State government has been functioning to rebuild the society by providing quality education and skill development for which Md Yunus has provided necessary blue-print.

Andhra University Vice-Chancellor Prof G Nageswara Rao, registrar Prof V Umamaheswara Rao, seminar convener Prof K Raghu Babu and others were present.