Question

How does yunus define poverty

Answer 1

Condition where people's basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter are not being met. Poverty is generally of two types. 

Absolute poverty is synonymous with destitution and occurs when people can not obtain adequate resources (measured in terms of calories or nutrition) to support a minimum level of physical health. Absolute poverty means about the same everywhere, and can be eradicated as demonstrated by some countries.

 Relative poverty occurs when people do not enjoy a certain minimum level of living standards as determined by a government (and enjoyed by the bulk of the population) that vary from country to country, sometimes within the same country. Relative poverty occurs everywhere, is said to be increasing, and may never be eradicated. 

Answer 2

Prof. Yunus, in a letter to the members of the Grameen Bank on your departure from the bank in 2011 you wrote "I thought that if I were to lend money to the poor, than the villagers could be free from the grasp of the loan sharks. This is what I did. I never imagined that it would become my calling in life." How do you feel about the work you did with the Grameen bank for Bangladesh?

It's a great thing that people responded to it very well. Today, Grameen bank has about nearly 8.5 million borrowers. 97 per cent of them are women and they own the bank. It has grown into a nationwide institution which grants for loans for itself.

We give money so young people from poor families can go into higher education. We created a nursing college, so that the young girls can become good quality nurses. And we have created health care services.