Government sets up operation centre to tackle homeless and begging problems in capital

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Government sets up operation centre to tackle homeless and begging problems in capital

 

 

BANGKOK: -- The government has set up an operation centre to regulate homeless people and wandering beggars in the capital. The centre began operation with a total of 120 people rounded up in the first week of this month.

 

Government spokesman Lt Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the centre, to be called Social Assistance Centre, was set up on instruction of Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha in order to resolve the problem of homeless people and wandering beggars in the streets of Bangkok from the roots.

 

The centre now has 10 teams of officials going out on the streets to find these people.

 

Since March 1-7, he said a total of 120 homeless people and wandering beggars were rounded up.

 

They included 58 beggars and 62 homeless people.

 

Of the 120 people rounded up, 29 are foreign nationals.

 

The spokesman said all these people were sent to the Ban Maitree halfway home in Bangkok and the homeless facility in Nonthaburi for screening.

 

Those who went through the screening and found to be Thais, they will be given physical and mental rehabilitation and provided with occupational training so they can be employed and reintegrated into society.

 

But for those found to be mentally sick, they will be sent to special psychiatric institutes for treatment, he said.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/government-sets-operation-centre-tackle-homeless-begging-problems-capital/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2017-03-13

[NextStationBangkok]

Being homeless is not a problem, there are number of park benches to sleep. I feel it is their right to choose their life to be like that, by getting small food. Some times if there are no one for them, why to earn lot of money. Just be happy with small income, food and sleep peacefully.

 

The problem is people rent children, or force children to beg. I know where they are begging, i am not sure police really want to take action, they always come back to streets.

[cncltd1973]

A US city is experimenting with paying the homeless to clean up the parks. With all the Thai litter, seems like this is a 2 birds/ 1stone solution.

[SvenOslo]

That's a good start.