Ministry survey shed light on street beggars
Thailand has 1,186 street beggars, 750 of whom are Thai and 436 foreign, according to the Social Development and Human Security Ministry.
The report, which was presented to the Cabinet on Tuesday, revealed that 147 of the beggars are children and 64 of those are Thai.
Street beggars are usually spotted at markets, community areas, shopping malls, transport hubs and religious places. The reasons cited the most as driving people to beg for money were economic problems and insufficient income to cover family expenses, while disabled people could not find other jobs to support themselves, the ministry said.
Beggars believe begging for money is not illegal.
The ministry will screen the beggars and explain the law to them before sending them to related agencies or local hospitals for medical treatment or vocational training. As for the foreign beggars who entered the country illegally or allowed their visas to expire, the ministry would ask the Immigration Bureau to return them to their countries of origin. The ministry will also push for the creation of nationwide database of street beggars and an update of the 1941 Beggar Control Act.
Bangkok, Chon Buri, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chiang Rai and Nakhon Sawan are the provinces where street beggars are most prevalent. Child beggars were mostly found in Nonthaburi, Prachin Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Samut Songkhram and Suphan Buri provinces.