Jakarta Sets Surveillance in Large Mosques to Crack Down Seasonal Beggars

TheIndonesia.id - The Jakarta Social Affairs Office has informed that it will focus on supervising 44 locations where problems related to social welfare often occur during Ramadan. It's part of the Government of Jakarta's efforts to crack down on seasonal beggars.

"During the 2022 Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, the Social Affairs Office has readied personnel to conduct supervision throughout the regions for anticipating the increase in the people who need social welfare services (PPKS)," Jakarta Social Affairs Office Head Premi Lasari remarked quoted by Antara on Tuesday, April 5, 2022.

The supervision activities will be conducted by around 439 Service, Supervision, and Social Control (P3S) officers spread across the five administrative cities of Jakarta (North Jakarta, Central Jakarta, South Jakarta, West Jakarta, and East Jakarta), she informed.

In addition to the 44 vulnerable points spread across the five administrative cities, Jakarta Social Affairs Office will also conduct surveillance at large mosques. "We will also monitor the presence of people who need social welfare service in large mosques because this could interfere with people's comfort in performing worship in mosques," she explained.

Lasari affirmed that handing over some sustenance and alms is a noble form of worship during the holy month of Ramadan. However, she advised people to make donations through trusted alms distribution agencies.

"Let's do zakat, infaq, alms, or donations through official institutions that are trusted. Through an official institution, the donation will be combined with cash from other donors, so it can be bigger and more useful if empowerment programs are carried out," Lasari said.

Earlier, the Jakarta provincial Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) had surmised that intellectual actors allegedly deploy beggars during the fasting month until Eid al-Fitr. "Whether there are intellectual actors or groups that take advantage by mobilizing people to beg for personal interests, we will not let it and will carry out a crackdown," Jakarta Satpol PP head Arifin said.

He affirmed that his team will expand the supervision of beggars and homeless people or people with social welfare problems (PMKS).