Residents urged not to help beggars

JAKARTA: City administration has asked residents not to give money to beggars on the street during the holy fasting month of Ramadhan.

"It would be better if residents made contributions to the needy in their neighborhood," the head of the City Social Welfare Agency, Endang W. Dungga, told Antara news agency on Friday.

"We expect that there will be some 3,000 beggars coming into the city during the fasting month and the Idul Fitri holidays. The number of beggars has increased from last year's figure of 2,000."

The agency will continue its crackdown on beggars in the capital and will take them to rehabilitation centers, Endang added.

"They will be sent back to their hometowns and be given a travel allowance of Rp 50,000 (US$5.50). We will also provide them with a meal allowance of Rp 7,500 a day."

"They will also be given the option of taking short vocational courses, such as in agriculture or the automotive industry," she said. -- JP