HCM City is worried about the image presented by scores of beggars and roving impoverished street hawkers on the streets and authorities are moving to crackdown on their presence ahead of the upcoming Tet lunar new year and at times of important events marking the 30th anniversary of the reunification of the country in 2015.
A fake monk asking for donations in District 9, HCM City
Of concern has been the growing number of old, invalided and disabled people begging for money or selling items such as toothpicks, tissues and chewing gum outside beer bars, restaurants and shops.
Authorities believe this roving army of the displaced is detrimental to the image of the city, both to foreign and local travellers.
The municipal People’s Committee has ordered the Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs unit to police major streets to identify beggars and report them to local law enforcement officers. They will be targeting beggars and vendors who annoy others.
The city’s Religion Board has asked Buddhists not to give money to beggars, and the HCM City Buddhist Shangha has instructed monks not to openly beg for alms.
The vice-chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee, Hua Ngoc Thuan, has asked 24 districts to promote hotlines for the reporting of beggars. The districts have also been instructed to take responsibility for indigent people in their localities, ensuring they have somewhere warm to sleep and have access to proper food and health care.
Danang has already pioneered a programme that has virtually eliminated the incidence of begging. HCM City is modelling its programme on Danang’s success.
Already, the city’s Social Sponsoring Centre helps more than 2,000 beggars and homeless people, who would otherwise have no choice but to sleep out in public places.
The hotline numbers for reporting beggars is 38 292491 or 0903 959929, during working hours, or the HCM City’s 24-hour line at the Department of Social Assistance at 35 533258.
Đăng ký: VietNam News
