Morocco moves to eradicate begging
2007-10-03
A recent study revealed the most accurate figures to date on begging in Morocco. Officials hope to use the data to better adapt a programme launched last March to combat the social problem.
By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat – 03/10/07
 [Getty Images] Children's involvement in begging is a rampant problem in Morocco. |
The phenomenon of beggars is a major challenge for the Moroccan government. To address the root causes of the problem and to understand its full extent, the Ministry for Social Development, Families and Solidarity conducted a survey and announced the results on September 27th. A scientific inquiry throughout the country to evaluate the real size of the problem had never been carried out before.
Minister for Social Development, Families and Solidarity Abderrahim Harouchi said studies previously undertaken on the subject were more theoretical considerations. They have been useful in highlighting the problem of begging, but their evaluations were largely devoid of objective statistical methods.
The survey covered a sample of 3,400 beggars and showed that in most areas, one Moroccan in 150 is begging. According to demographics expert Najib Rassifi, there are 195,150 beggars in Morocco. "This figure is quite realistic, with a margin of error of only 5%." Women constitute approximately 51.1% of the country's mendicants.
The Rabat-Salé-Zemmour-Zaer region is home to the largest number of beggars, with a percentage of 21.8%, followed by the Greater Casablanca region with 17.8%. The area of Chaouia-Ouardigha-Abda Doukala recorded the lowest level, with just 6.8%. Whilst 34.6% of beggars are aged 40 to 59, young people of 18 years or less make up only 11.5%. A total of 35.2% of beggars are married.
Ahmed Lamrini, Secretary-General at the social development ministry said the report shows that people who resort to begging are motivated by the need to support a family. In addition, 66.7% of beggars are illiterate and only 0.4% of them have any higher education.
The survey's findings will be used to support the campaign to combat begging, begun in Casablanca in March. Over the past six months, some 440 beggars were admitted to the Tit Mellil social centre, of which 70% have been reintegrated into families. Two fifths of them will remain in the centre and 10% will benefit from socio-economic training programmes. The economic plan is geared towards people who want to run their own small businesses but are unable to produce the capital they need. With this in mind, the social development ministry has signed partnership agreements with a number of associations to finance 37 projects around Casablanca and Rabat.
According to Abderrahim Harouchi, "This strategy considers the living conditions and social situation of the beggars, but it also has a deterrent side to it, in that it tackles professional begging, particularly by applying the law criminalising the exploitation of children in begging."
The strategy will soon be rolled out in three more cities: Fez, Marrakesh and Tangier. According to the government, the chief objective is to tackle professional begging. Several people seeking hand-outs were caught with considerable sums of money. The director of economic and social affairs in the Wilaya of Greater Casablanca, Zine Elabidine El Azhar, said authorities have seized 942,496 dirhams from beggars. One single beggar was found with 300,000 dirhams.
El Azhar called for an integrated approach to the problem, based on agencies' intervention, family and socio-economic reintegration and the application of the law, particularly against repeat offenders and those exploiting children. He has indicated that raising awareness among the public is clearly needed, as well as information designed to educate the beggars themselves.
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Noureddine Boutahar Posted 2007-10-03
What about the causes of begging and poverty in this rich country? Corruption, the embezzlement of public money, injustice, unemployment, the huge gap between the big and small salaries and wages to mention only a few. If we handle these problems, begging will fade away abd disappear by itself. Look at the salary of our ministers, for example, whose number doubles that of china and many other countries.... look at the salary of our MPs whose majority does nothing but waits for the end of the month to get paid, look at that of our CEOs (chief executive officers) and many others and compare it to that of their counterparts in Europe and America! If we stay this way, the poor getting poorer and the rich richer, God alone knows the repercussions.
Beumgeau Kim Posted 2007-10-04
I'm a Korean Canadian to live in Rabat for 4 years. My friend introduces this web site few days ago. Your articles and news are very usuful to know more about Morocco and accross the Magreb conturies. Keep continue your contribution for the better world. From time to time, I may to send my opinion and photos for news and article. Is it O.K. to do that? But I want to know who is in charge of all these? Who will be my partner? You can send me the answer through my mail. Thank you for your attention,
Madghis Posted 2007-10-04
I hope Morocco will one day become one of the most prosperous in Africa. But in order to do that, we need to take care of our youth and our most unfortunate. We have to take care of the poor as if they were our own family and eridicate this mentality of You take from me I'll take from you. I wish the best for Morocco.
fouad Posted 2007-10-05
I read your article and I think it would be nice to have a link to take us to the Ministry report. Thank you
Richard Chapman Posted 2007-10-09
I have been to morocco a fair few times in the last 2-3 years and the 'problem' seems to be getting smaller begging will never go away their is still some in london. Many of the beggers seem to be women with kids/babies and to me 10 dirhams etc is not a lot of money... I'm not aware of their being such things as welfare in morocco ?? so expect most people rely on families and if you havent got a family where do you go in morocco ? the state needs to pay for the real poor like in western countries
Joanna Posted 2007-10-11
I find this article to be very interesting and eye-opening. Every day I pass on the streets I never really take notice of the mendicants. Thank you.
حسناء Posted 2007-11-06
Salam alaikoum, while conducting research on the phenomenon of begging with the city of Safi as a model, I noticed the absence of statistics specific to all cities given that the highest rate of beggars are on the outskirts of this city according to some personal statistics. I hope that there will be a follow-up of this phenomenon which is deteriorating continuously.
aziz hairane Posted 2007-11-14
I think the phenomena of begging is very most exited in Morocco,above all in great région of casablanca,so the Moroccan state try to fight against it,by to etablishes the stratégie to pick up beggars and assured his integration in to any socials associations.
abdellatif Posted 2007-12-04
thank you for this informatio but please if you can send me this artical
amina darif Posted 2008-01-01
begging is practise whereby person obtains moeny,food and shelter ;it exist every where such as streets,mosques;public places;post office and banks
tores Posted 2008-01-19
What a great website! I have a solution to begging.
فاتن Posted 2008-03-17
We thank you for publishing such features which tackle thorny topics such as begging.
telesphor Posted 2008-04-03
We are looking for partners for an NGO that combats begging in Niger.
abderrahim ezraidi Posted 2008-04-09
for me as a student,i think that the main cause for begging in morocco is the caste disparity significantly
abouiliass Posted 2008-07-10
In the name of God the most gracious the most merciful. If public servants and employees in this dear country have to beg because of the terrific rise in prices and the costs of a dignified life, they are just discouraged by a deep pride. If these employees and officials of the respectable state beg in some way, what can we say of those who have no stable job such as the pensioners, oh pensioners, day-labourers and people who are unable to work…? We ask God to cover us with His grace.
Anonymous Posted 2008-12-26
Unfortunately, begging distorts the overall image of Morocco. I was in Morocco once and swore never to go back there because of this phenomenon. The beggar in Europe doesn’t go to the tourist, compel him to give money and follow him for 1000 km. This phenomenon is totally tourism in Morocco with time. Many people, lie me, are astonished and unfortunately don’t return there. When are we going to see Morocco without beggars?
insaf Posted 2009-01-17
Hi- I thank all of you for having given us information about begging.
fati Posted 2009-03-14
I am against begging.
fatima zahra Posted 2009-03-14
I would like to thank you.
fatima houssni Posted 2009-03-24
The biggest part in this problem is exploiting children.
manar Posted 2009-05-02
With regards to the cause of this disturbing scourge, poverty is number one. It is the principal cause for over 51% of beggars. As for the rest, they are rather disabled, ill or lack employment opportunities, all causing over-indebtedness, alcoholism, substance abuse, the inability to keep a job, the perpetual need for more money, family rupture, divorce, life in social housing projects, the need for more or temporary cash. Students and underpaid worker have the habit of begging or have families that beg.
ماية Posted 2009-06-02
Begging in Morocco has become a job for an easy living. It is a real social scourge. It is difficult to eradicate it as long as Morocco has not reached a fact and adopted a deterrent method against corruption, social disparities and punishing those who exploit the resources of the country, plundering them by those responsible for managing its affairs, social disparities, marginalization, failure to draw up a real and clear strategy for social balances. Therefore, begging will increase together with the social misery, robbery and extremism. There are other factors which encourage begging, robbery and criminality. These factors are housing, the wide-spread of shantytowns, extreme poverty, negligence by the state of all these things. They are a hurdle between what we hear; slogans and fabricated programmes used to deceive local and international public opinion that there is a change. In reality there will be no change without a real will to develop public affairs and change vision of the ordinary citizen. Therefore, we must basically fight ignorance and prevalent illiteracy powerfully in Morocco, upgrade living and social standards of citizens, avoid social disparities among employees, improve wages, upgrade the cultural and media levels, raise citizens to the living standards they expect. Only in that condition that the beginning of war against begging will succeed in Morocco which is rich by its human and natural resources. Here are some of the casualties of begging: in Morocco most public servants are beggars in different ways, these are facts. They include security officers, auxiliary forces, royal gendarmes, soldiers in the armed forces who use different ways of begging... so when can we eliminate and fight begging? May be after centuries, with the will of God, with a real, effective and concrete democracy through which everyone feels a real change flowing in the general interest of citizens. We ask God to protect this country from corrupting people and opportunists. Then we can say goodbye begging.
akli youssef Posted 2009-06-29
Raising public awareness is an urgent need in addition to drawing information that target awareness-raising among beggars themselves.
anoir el khoudri Posted 2009-07-23
I think that this problem stems from the great poverty people are suffering in.
مجهول Posted 2009-09-19
I will acknowledge to you through this forum that I am a professional beggar. Everyone blame us for this work, they consider it vile and a crime. They blame us and wage a war against us on the basis of their false and wrong studies. The problems should be addressed deeply. We must start from a firm and sound basis which shows the reality of this phenomenon from a clearer point of view. I am a young man, 24. I have a university degree in economics and a diploma in informatics. I am orphan, fatherless. The mother married and deserted us in hard conditions. She married and now she lives in the noise of the capital. I remained alone to take care of my brother and sister who aren't yet 18. who will offer them a rental for a house which doesn't meet the slightest means for a dignified life. Who will offer them food, school expenses, Eid and celebration fees? I was tired of working for a low humble wage which is not enough to cover half the fees I mentioned. I sacrifice my honour, dignity and future for my brothers and their future for which they are not responsible. It is their destination which threw them in this cursed life. Imagine that I have traveled all over Morocco. I suffered a lot in trying to find out ways to convince people and get their sympathy for a few dirhams to restore happiness to my innocent brothers. In reality, I am very proud of this job. It makes feel that I am in a war, fighting and struggle with social reality which requires us to win in the end. I have really tasted victory after one day. I will ultimately resign from this work but after reaching the final line. I would have then put every brick in its right place and saved the family from loss. By the way and for your information about this fascinating and hard work, I will give you the real and ground study from a person who experienced it clearly. The profits of this job are 250 dirhams per hour depending on the location. Number of working hours is 8. its planing differs from region to region. The net daily income can reach most of the times 2500 dirhams. The best way to facilitate work is movement from place to place. Incurred fees: 0 dirhams. End.
youness Posted 16 days ago
We are the ones responsible for begging. Yes, it is us. We are the ones who give money to the beggars time and time again. That is the reality of it.
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