iCalls grow for stricter measures against beggars.

BY FOUZIA KHAN

JEDDAH: There seems to be no let-up in the business of begging in the city despite the crackdown and appeals by authorities concerned.

Professional beggars are now widening their area of operation and style of functioning with impunity.

Alm seekers, who were generally found in the streets and near mosques, have started entering malls and harassing customers.
According to a resident, some of them even go to the extent of cursing the one who excuses himself or herself from parting with money.

Expressing her dismay at the menace, Afshan Riyaz, a resident of Jeddah, said: “It’s true that the Ministry of Interior has appealed to the public not to give money to professional beggars. However, you find yourself in a helpless situation if a beggar seeks alms for food when you are buying food. For example, I was buying foodstuff from a popular outlet and woman started pleading for alms.”

“These professional beggars also exploit people’s sentiments. The ministry should do something about this,” she added
Seham Dildar, a shopper, said she was very much surprised to see beggars inside the store and at the main gate.

“More surprisingly, they were not only begging but also cursing people if they did not give them money. A woman who was begging at an entrance was inside the Serafi Mega Mall after 15 minutes.”

Azhar Hamed, another resident, complained how beggars can boldly operate at traffic lights on main roads in front of the traffic police.

“Now, they have entered malls and don’t care about security guards. It looks like a racket” he said.

Source: ArabNews