Creativity amid misery

Creativity amid misery

From Warta Kota

Some people have lately become even more creative in trying to part bus passengers from their money. With the fires and evictions that have taken place in different parts of Jakarta, there are rumors that the victims have sent their children out onto the streets to get money in whatever way they can.

As street singers, they are still accepted by the public. But some of them claim to be homeless after their slums were gutted by fire or their homes demolished. The question is: How can passengers be sure that they are really the victims of such disasters?

Some time ago, those begging on the buses pretended to be ex- convicts and demanded fixed minimum sums, like Rp 1,000 or Rp 3,000. This was followed by beggars claiming their relatives were in hospital. They even used to mention the names of actual hospitals and invite passengers to go and see for themselves (but who cared, anyway?).

As there is widespread public suspicion that the latest crop of beggars are attempting to profit from the suffering of the real disaster victims, this situation should not be left unaddressed. The social affairs office of the Jakarta administration should deal with the social consequences that arise as a result of the administration's policies.

R. RUMPOKO Jakarta