Street begging is a social problem Sierra Leone is grabbling with,as beggars could be seen in every corner of the city.
There are more than 2000 street beggars in Freetown, according to a pilot survey conducted by the Ministry of Social Welfare.
The Director of Social Welfare at the Ministry of Social Welfare, Francis Kabia said in Freetown the Socio-economic Empowerment Livelihood Project for Persons living with Disabilities which was launched in December will address begging and reduce the number street beggars in the country.
The project seeks to provide skills and economic relief that would reduce poverty and inequality among persons with disabilities (PWDs).
The Director said that street begging has also become a national threat because childrenwho are mostly involved in it would growup to become illiterate and unskilled.
He made this statement during discussion held to evaluate the implementation and progress of the livelihood project.
Kabia said thatdisabilityissues across the country is a serious concern because affected persons were the most vulnerable and marginalized in their localities.
He also cited that beggars have incorporated new begging habits to travel from one district to another to beg.
He noted thatto reduce vulnerability and tackling the menace of street begging among persons with disabilities, the Ministry is implementing the economic empowerment programme with the aim of building the capacity of persons with disabilities through skills training, and provision of reintegration package.
This project is to generate employment among poor households by moving poor households into sustainable economic stability. He said that skills training centers have been established across the country to empower PEWDs., he noted that more needed to be done to help PWDs realise their potentials in society.
By George M.O. Williams