RIYADH, 1 September — A majority of children who sell trinkets or beg in the streets are Saudis, a new study revealed.

The study on the social and economic conditions of child beggars has sparked a debate in the Arabic press as the revelation contradicted the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs claim that only 25 percent of the children are Saudis.

“Most of these child beggars are from large Saudi families and their parents are illiterate,” said the study, adding that most of the families have been living in rented houses. In many cases, their parents have been accused of pushing their children into begging though they themselves are healthy enough to work. But in some cases, the parents earn some money but it is too insufficient to make ends meet in these days of soaring living costs in Saudi cities.

The problem seems to be compounded with a number of expatriate children and women begging in the streets and near mosques.

More than 76 children were recently deported back to an Asian country amid claims that they were part of a well-organized beggary racket. Most of these children with congenital deformities were deployed in the holy cities of Makkah and Medinah for begging.

Begging as a phenomenon foreign to Saudi society, multiplies during the holy month of Ramadan and continues until Haj in a more organized manner. The Kingdom is taking tough action to stamp out begging rackets which exploit children, many of them handicapped girls. The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs have already set up offices across the country, especially in Makkah and Madinah, with the aim of fighting the social evil.

Referring to the general conditions of children begging in the streets or at public places, the study said that some of the beggars have been found to be attending elementary schools in their cities, after spending five hours a day for begging. Their average daily income ranges from SR30 to SR70. The earnings are mainly utilized to support their families.

The study quoted the International Labor Organization (ILO) as saying that there are thousands of child beggars in the Kingdom. Beggary is indeed becoming an alarming social problem.

According to the study, the average age of these child beggars is seven years. With every passing day a number of minor girls and their mothers take up beggary as a full-time vocation.

As the tribe multiplies, beggars have become an unwelcome but common sight.