One feels great sadness upon seeing underage children at traffic lights begging for money in the middle of the night, or pleading with you to buy a box of tissues. Their appearance shows that they are in need and they themselves explain the hopelessness of their situations. Sometimes the beggar is an old woman — which makes one’s heart even more miserable. I have said enough, as I’m sure many of you have witnessed and sympathized with the individuals.
What we fail to understand, however, is that these people don’t need sympathy only. There should be an organization or an institution to protect them from harming themselves or making their families even more vulnerable. I can’t imagine how it feels for a 10-year-old child to stand begging at a traffic light in the middle of the night; surely doing so damages the child’s psychological and physical wellbeing.
This problem has to be seriously looked at. Children need to be protected, either through social institutions or charitable organizations if they are citizens. If they are foreigners, they should be sent back home. It’s never easy to overcome one’s feelings to give money to them or buy whatever they are selling but the truth is we have got to stop. We are actually protecting and helping them when we don’t help. I’m sure that the Anti-Beggary Department is doing a good job, but no matter how efficient they are the help of citizens is still necessary.
Citizens must be aware of the beggars’ situation, the negative impact of continuously giving them money and how they can be genuinely helped. We need to do what we can to stop beggary and clear the streets from late-night beggars. We must unite to solve the problem and if we do so, we would surely find a solution that will serve the best interests of everyone.
