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Jakarta deploys 425 officers to manage seasonal beggars during Ramadhan
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Helping the poor: A shopper gives money to a beggar whose right leg and arm have been amputated at the Bandar Baru Air Itam night market in Penang. (The Star/Chan Boon Kai)
T
he Jakarta Social Agency has deployed 425 officers to five locations across Jakarta to ensure the capital is free from beggars and vagrants during Ramadhan.
Masrokhan, the agency head, said even though the number of vagrants and beggars who come from outside Jakarta had decreased the hotspot places for “people with social and community problems” (PMKS) to gather were increasing.
“The number of hotspots for beggars to hang out has increased from 49 places to 276 places,” Masrokhan said.
“We are ready in five municipalities to anticipate Idul Fitri celebrations…There will be morning, afternoon and evening shifts for the officers. Some officers will even guard until morning,” Masrokhan said to tribunnews.com on Thursday.
If beggars are caught, they will be brought to shelters and their information will be collected, he said. “If they are not Jakartans they will be returned to their place of origin.”
(Read also: Old beggar arrested, carrying millions of rupiah)
“There will be a 21-day social training program and we will return them to their family,” Masrokhan. said.
He said the beggars would be trained in certain skills, such as small scale trading, including selling food, and included in a cooperative. (hol/jun)
