By RASHA AL QAHTANI
Published: 29th November 2007
A SHELTER that can accommodate 80 Bahraini beggars will officially be opened in Riffa today. The three-storey building will be opened by Social Development Minister Dr Fatima Al Balooshi at 9am.
The move is part of the ministry’s policy to curb begging which follows a scheme backed by the Shura Council earlier this year.
The scheme is to give temporary shelter to the homeless and beggars until the government finds them jobs, said a ministry official.
By RASHA AL QAHTANI
Published: 29th November 2007
A SHELTER that can accommodate 80 Bahraini beggars will officially be opened in Riffa today. The three-storey building will be opened by Social Development Minister Dr Fatima Al Balooshi at 9am.
The move is part of the ministry’s policy to curb begging which follows a scheme backed by the Shura Council earlier this year.
The scheme is to give temporary shelter to the homeless and beggars until the government finds them jobs, said a ministry official.
The shelter will provide beggars and homeless people shelter for 10 days, while the Labour Ministry will find them work. Those taken into the shelter would also be given medical and psychological help.
Meanwhile, a new law governing beggars and the homeless is scheduled to be implemented today.
The law, which has been approved by the National Assembly aims at getting the homeless and beggars off the streets.
The legislation gives the Social Development and the Interior Ministries the right to jointly oversee the issues of those who fall under this category.
The law stipulates that reports on all cases be prepared and their names compiled by both ministries.
Beggars who re-offend after being assisted by the centre would face up to a year in jail and or a BD50 to BD100 fine.
If beggars already have a source of income, then they will be sentenced up to six months in jail or fined between BD20 and BD50, or both.
Foreigners caught begging would be deported after completing their sentences.
People using others to beg for them on the street would be sentenced up to three months in jail and/or fined BD50 to BD200.
Beggars with families will be taken back to their homes after receiving the necessary check-ups at the shelter.
However, the breadwinner will be fined BD100 if the family members is caught begging again.
Beggars who have served their sentence, but are caught again, will be jailed for six months to a year.
The revenue from fines would be allocated to the social welfare fund, which was approved by parliament and officially set up last year.
rasha@gdn.com.bh—————————-
? Gulf Daily News
