Appeal For Residents In West Sumatra Don't Give Money To Homeless People And Street Children

Illustration of a beggar carrying a toddler on the street (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol PP), Padang, West Sumatra, appeal local people not to give money to homeless people, street children who often appear at several points in the city.

"We appeal the public not to give money or goods to street children and homeless people at traffic light intersections", said Alfiadi, Head of the Civil Service Police Unit Padang, as reported by Antara, Monday, February 8.

He said this invitation was because if beggars, street children, homeless people, and even Pak Ogah ( A person who pretends to be a police officer to manage traffic and asks for money from car drivers) to be given money or goods, they would continue to stay in that location and the number could increase.

"This will certainly be a social problem in Padang which must be resolved together", he said.

According to him, most of the street children, beggars, homeless people on the main roads of the city have often been eradicated by officers and have been recorded and rehabilitated by the Social Service and given guidance so that they do not return to the streets.

"On average those who are still on the streets have been registered, they do not have a job and have been given an assessment by the Social Service, in the form of capital assistance through social assistance programs so they can be independent", he said.

Besides that, beggars who bring children to the streets are also dangerous and prone to accidents. Officers also stepped up more intense surveillance and returned them back to their parents.

"Let's start from now, we stop to give money and goods on the streets for their better future", he said.