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Students see special centres as a solution to problem of begging
2008-05-01 10:55:20
By Mary Edward, PST, Dodoma
The government has been called upon to establish more centres to cater for the disadvantaged and people with disabilities in order to get rid of the problem of beggars in the country, particularly in Dodoma.
The call was made by students from various colleges in Dodoma municipality who earlier this week conducted a research in various parts of the region to establish reasons leading to the escalation of the begging problem in the region.
Presenting their views at a workshop conducted by the Mwalimu Nyerere Rotary Club in Dodoma, the students cited laziness on the part of Dodoma residents as one of the reasons which led some of the residents to resort to begging as a source of their livelihood.
They also suggested that strategies should be devised to impart them with various skills which would enable them live on their own without begging.
The students blamed the society for turning a blind eye to the problem, which was highly precipitated by tribal cultures and traditions of the people of the region.
``On a wider scale, this problem will continue to affect the next generations in our country as there is no rational division of resources between people living in rural and urban areas,`` said Denis Mushanga, one of the students.
As regards the economic base of the region, which has only a few small-scale factories, they said the situation forced most youths and beggars to flock to other urban centres for survival.
They also blasted authorities who provided official begging permits to some people to roam urban streets begging for alms.
``There are beggars who are provided with duly signed and stamped documents allowing them to beg for alms or other similar assistance,`` said a student who preferred anonymity.
Another student, Nicolas Ngowi, called on government authorities to locate more new economic projects in the region in order to offer the residents better economic prospects.
``The government has to educate the people in the region on the need to work hard by using the resources obtaining in their midst and providing them with the necessary education and skills,`` said Ngowi.
Meanwhile, Dodoma Rotary Club youth director Erick Mwidunda said the object of the workshop was devising means of checking the wave of beggars emanating from the region.
``By undertaking the research and presenting their suggestions, we hope the government will act on the findings in order to gradually get rid of the problem in the near future,`` he said.
He also called on the government to start empowering the youth in primary schools with entrepreneurial skills in order to enable them embark on productive activities upon leaving school.
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