'Street kids exploited by adults'
'Street kids exploited by adults'
The number of street children here has increased in the past few
years. They can be found at every intersection in the city. When
the traffic lights turn red, they approach the cars and beg. Some
motorists say they take pity on the children, but others say they
are annoying.
Yuli Indriawati, 26, was born in Jakarta and now resides in
Pancoran, South Jakarta. She works as an employee at a
kindergarten in Sunter, North Jakarta.
"Street children? Of course, everyday I meet them on my way to
work and home. They can be easily found singing or begging on
public busses or public minivans.
"My reaction to them depends on the situation. Sometimes, I
feel pity on them, especially the toddlers. If I have some
change, I will surely give some to them. Besides, some of them
are really good singers. I often give more to those who sing
popular songs.
"However, I hate those older children who sometime insist on
passengers giving them money. Like today, a drunk street child
extorted money from passengers."
Sri Hudani spokeswoman of the Bung Karno Sport Complex
management in Central Jakarta. She lives in Ciputat, South
Jakarta.
"As I have also children, I take pity on them (street
children). I never refuse if they ask for money from me. But I
also know that they are exploited by their parents or by other
adult people.
"When I go home from my office, I know that a group of women
organize the street children to become beggars at the traffic
lights.
"How could they exploit a five-year-old child to work on the
street up to 12 at night while many other children sleep soundly
in their beds.
"I think the authorities should not allow such an exploitation
of children. They should crack down against those involved in
such a bad business."
B. Virna Widyastuti, 24, a marketer at a leading private
company. She is the only daughter of a family who resides in
Tomang, West Jakarta.
"My spontaneous feelings upon seeing the street children is
pity. I take pity on them as I cannot imagine how those little
kids spend most of their lives on the streets.
"I wonder about the whereabouts of their parents and how they
could let their children do such a thing, which makes them prone
to violations, mistreatment and many other unpleasant things.
"Sometimes I'm reluctant to give them money due to my
suspicion that there must be someone behind them. I'm really
willing to donate to the children, but not their boss, if any.
"So I prefer giving them things like candy or food instead of
money. I'm so sad when I see those deprived children's condition.
"I think the government does not have any serious concerns
about the life of street children. It would be better to
accommodate them in appropriate halfway homes across greater
Jakarta."