Sunday, November 17, 2002
Beggars go hi-tech in Saudi Arabia
Press Trust of India Dubai, November 17
Hoodwinking authorities, beggars in Saudi Arabia have gone hi-tech, using mobiles to warn each other about the arrival of anti-begging squads. The number of beggars in Saudi Arabia increases by 50 per cent during holy month of Ramadan, majority of them being foreigners who are now using modern telecommunication methods such as mobiles to inform one another about the arrival of anti-beggary squads, a Saudi minister said.
On their "modus-operandi", the beggars, 80 per cent of them non-Saudis use different methods to draw the attention of philanthropists. They often display medical bills and house rent agreements to win sympathy of people, the daily 'Al Watan' quoted the minister as saying.
The hi-tech development comes amid Saudi government's anti-begging drive as part of which it urged Saudis and expatriates not to exhibit any sympathy towards beggars and give their donations to charitable societies to be distributed among deserving people.
The minister asked the anti-beggary bureau to not only design methods to fight the evil but also take note of the condition of these people and provide them with necessary assistance.
Saudi authorities have so far arrested 13,580 beggars including 11,848 foreigners last year after raids in Riyadh, Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, Dammam and Abha.
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