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Editorial: Criminalizing alms givers
This time, the Jakarta administration seems serious in trying to clean up the streets from beggars and street children
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T
his time, the Jakarta administration seems serious in trying to clean up the streets from beggars and street children. The administration even sees both giving and begging on the streets and other public places as crimes. At least 12 people have been punished and have paid between Rp 20,000 (US$2) and Rp 70,000 ($7) in fines for giving money to beggars.
“I am just carrying out the mandate stipulated in Bylaw No. 8/2007 in which the givers and the receivers of charity on the streets can be punished,” head of the Jakarta Social Welfare Agency Budihardjo said, referring to Article 61 of the bylaw on public order which rules that the maximum punishment for giving alms in the street is a Rp 20 million fine or a two-month-jail term.
We support any efforts to improve security and public order in the capital so as to make the city a better place to live in. We also understand that the city needs to do something to stop improper activities such the exploitation of children to make them beg at intersections, on public transportation systems, in parks, in restaurants and other places.
But we need to question whether the city has adequately prepared a mechanism to address the impact of its crackdown against giving charity on the street because we cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that there are still many people, who need financial help. We also learn that not all people are happy to channel donations through the existing philanthropic organizations.
Certainly the spirit of the bylaw on public order is not to prevent people from practicing social solidarity. We also cannot ignore the fact that there are lots of people who still have high concern for others. It is therefore the responsibility of the city administration or even the central government as well to maintain and promote this spirit of social solidarity.
We know that there are a lot of charitable organizations run by non-governmental organizations, religious organizations, businessmen and corporations trying to accommodate and channel charitable donations. But so many people still prefer to channel their donations directly to the poor.
As a result, only a few of those organizations, are able to continue to exist. Perhaps people still question the credibility of these organizations.
Therefore, the city government needs to issue regulations that will require charitable organizations, among others, to be audited by public accountants. The government may need to certify organizations, which have met all the requirements. Meanwhile, in an attempt to encourage people to channel their donations properly, donations distributed by both individuals and corporations can be eligible for tax deduction.
All these efforts may help the city government to encourage the growth of more accountable philanthropic organizations to facilitate those people who want to channel their donations properly.
