Muscat – The Ministry of Social Development (MoSD), in collaboration with several government agencies, has launched an awareness campaign – titled ‘Are You Satisfied’ – aiming to highlight and curb the menace of begging.

The campaign seeks to inform the public about the perils of begging, urging them to report any identified instances promptly.

An official of MoSD informed that the campaign focuses on diverse aspects of begging, including the underlying causes and various manifestations of the social evil.

The campaign communicates the social and personal consequences of begging, like the potential for addiction and the breakdown of family structures.

It underscores the detrimental social impact, citing increased scope of fraud, child exploitation and potential escalation in other criminal activities such as drug trafficking.

The different modes and methods of begging, including electronic and seasonal begging, as well as individual and organised begging, are also being highlighted in the campaign. “It brings to light exploitative practices such as forcing children or people with disabilities into begging,” the official added. “Begging leads to donations, zakat funds and alms not reaching those who deserve them, and increase in cases of fraud and theft.”

Emphasising the ripple effects of this social menace, the official added, “It also leads to an escalation in criminal activities, disrupting society’s productivity and affecting the country’s reputation in terms of tourism.”

With the aim of curbing this evil practice, MoSD is seeking public cooperation, urging individuals to report begging incidents via dedicated hotlines – 1555 or 9999.

MoSD’s consistent efforts in this direction are evident in the arrest of hundreds of beggars in the past few years, showing the government’s unyielding resolve to eradicate begging from society.