Deserving beggars in Herat to receive monthly stipend

HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): More than 600 beggars have been rounded up from different parts of Herat city, the capital of western Herat province, and those deserving would be given monthly stipend, officials said on Wednesday.

The head of Beggars’ Collection Commission Maulvi Hayatullah Rohani said the commission had so far collected over 600 beggars from different parts of Herat city during the past four months.

The rounded up beggars included men, women and children and after the identification of entitled ones, they would be given monthly stipends.

He clarified that commitment would be sought from habitual beggars to stop the practice or face legal consequences in courts.

Maulvi Rahmatullah Mohammadi, a member of the commission, said that children without guardians would be provided vocational training by the Labor and Social Affairs Department.

Residents of the province hailed the drive and said beggars caused social and psychological issues.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Nasir, a resident of ninth district of the city, said collecting beggars from streets was important as their existence was a matter of concern for them.

Nasir added some beggars even needed no alms, but they had become habitual and their number was increasing day by day.

He said it was the duty of the government to help deserving ones and punish those breaking public order.

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan supreme leader decreed rounding up beggars two years ago and the government has allocated special monthly aid for entitled ones.

aw/ma