The Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation and the Fiji Police Force are working closely in profiling all beggars and street children, providing income generating projects where appropriate and also returning other individuals to the care of their respective families.
The Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Rosy Akbar handed over a sewing machine and sewing materials to Ms. Sarojni Devi in Koronivia with an aim to help her generate income for her family on Friday.
Ms. Devi who is 57-years-old has been begging in Suva for the past fifteen years. As a skilled sewer, she is well versed in using a sewing machine and was pleased with the assistance to start off her sewing business. She will sew doormats and pillow cases and sell them at affordable prices.
"I can sell the doormats and pillow cases from $3 to$5 so I can earn $20-$30 a day. This earnings can help me and my two children in our daily living. I would like to thank Minister Akbar for meeting with some of us beggars and listening to our requests."
She encouraged other beggars to seek advice and assistance from the Government so that they can start their own income-generating projects and make better use of that assistance to make a living.
Minister Akbar thanked Ms. Devi for her courage to start her income generating project and wished her well in her future endeavours.
"I encourage you to also start your backyard farming so you can eat healthy food and the Ministry will help to get your child back into school."
The Ministry will work closely with Ms. Sarojni in providing financial literacy training and arrange a stall for her at the Nausori Market.
Minister Akbar stressed that the Fijian Government has taken a holistic approach and has been consistent in strengthening social welfare programmes that provide preventative and responsive child protection services with emphasis on the implementation of strategies and programmes to reduce poverty and vulnerability in Fiji.
"The programme was also intended to ensure that every Fijian had improved access to quality social services and livelihood activities."
Minister Akbar said the Ministry, in collaboration with the Fiji Police Force, has plans to get these beggars off the streets of Suva and other parts of the country.
“One such programme, Operation Loloma, initiated in 2011, was aimed at identifying the number of persons on the streets, profiling and integrating them with their parents, caregivers, families and community to ensure that they can be completely cleared from the streets. Both street children and beggars have reasons for being on the streets, and the latter need to be considered in order to make their return home a success and enable them to lead independent lives.
“Each individual is responsible for their family members, ensuring that street dwellers, children and beggars are returned to their families and improving their lives. I encourage non - government organisations, business partners, faith based organisations and community members to work together with the Operation Loloma in tackling this complex issue."