The organized beggar 'business'

The organized beggar 'business'

Thousands of beggars have been flocking to the capital city of Jakarta since the fasting month of Ramadhan began one week ago.

They have become quite visible at busy intersections, shopping areas and other public places not only during working hours, but also at night time.

Stiff competition among them has obviously forced them to prolong their operation hours.

The "business" is managed by a "godfather" who brings them here from their villages and houses them in a certain place in Jakarta. The beggars are dropped off at strategic areas every morning and taken home in the evening. In this way the "profits" are shared by an agreement between the beggars and the bosses.

This sort of organized panhandling is still relatively lucrative in Jakarta despite economic hard times for most. A beggar can often collect between Rp 20,000 and Rp 100,000 a day. An amount that is higher than a full-time taxi driver's daily take-home earnings, which average around Rp 70,000.

How is it possible that these beggars can collect that amount of money? Because many Jakartans take pity on them, not realizing that it is part of an organized ring, and that they are not truly homeless and destitute as some are led to believe.

It was interesting to hear of Central Jakarta Mayor Petra Lumbun's appeal to the public not to be taken in so easily by the panhandlers. The appeal was a rational one, but that is not enough to stop them from operating.

Based on past experiences, rounding them up and punishing them will not stop them from operating.

-- Warta Kota, Jakarta