DENPASAR - Deputy Governor of Bali Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati (Cok Ace) highlighted the number of children who took to the streets to beg and sell tissues during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Because we see in the field. We see in general first, during this pandemic the unemployment rate increased in Bali by 4.4 percent from 1.2 percent to 5.6 percent during the pandemic, that's also last year's statistics (2020)," said Cok Ace after the inauguration ceremony for members of the Bali KPPAD at the Wiswa Sabha building, Denpasar, Thursday, October 28.
According to him, the increasing unemployment rate has contributed to the condition of the family which has an impact on the children taking to the streets.
"I said earlier, during this COVID-19 if we (see) at the crossroads, the traffic lights are increasing. This is a joint PR to overcome what problems are behind it all," he said.
"I see begging, selling tissue, if we look at their ages, all of them should be at the learning age (and) those who are still at the elementary level. We know that elementary school is now free, why not use it for school," continued Cok Ace.
Cok Ace ordered the relevant parties to handle the case of street children. The goal is to make a solution to overcome the phenomenon of street children.
"Because even before COVID-19 there was such a phenomenon. What drives? because this is very contrary to the government's efforts from year to year to improve welfare for children, build schools and so on, it is paradoxical that there are more children on the streets," said Cok Ace.
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