The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security is set to launch a campaign urging the public to avoid giving money to beggars, following a nationwide survey indicating an increase in their numbers.
Minister Varawut Silpa-archa has scheduled the campaign’s kickoff for Friday at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre in the Pathumwan district.
The event will see participation from various sectors, including the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB), the Immigration Bureau, the Mirror Foundation, and various organizations dedicated to addressing the issue of begging.
Participants will distribute campaign pamphlets in multiple languages—Thai, English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Cambodian—at Pathumwan Intersection and along Rama I and Phaya Thai roads, according to Mr. Varawut.
The purpose of the campaign is to raise public awareness about the increasing issue of begging and to promote regulatory and legal measures aimed at controlling the number of beggars. Additionally, it seeks to change public attitudes toward giving money to beggars.
Many individuals feel compelled to help beggars who seem to be suffering or who claim to be disabled, viewing acts of kindness as a means of making merit. However, this sentiment contributes to the problem, as many beggars may be victims of trafficking or coerced into engaging in illegal activities.
According to the ministry’s findings, there were 506 beggars reported on the streets nationwide in the fiscal year ending next month, marking a 20% increase compared to the previous year. Among them, 331 (or 65%) were Thai nationals, and 24% were identified as repeat beggars.
The majority of beggars were found in major cities, particularly in Bangkok and popular tourist destinations like Chon Buri, Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Lop Buri.
Conversely, nine provinces reported being free of beggars: Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Satun, Nakhon Phanom, Lampang, Phetchaburi, Nan, and Phangnga, according to Mr. Varawut.
He further stated that from October 2014 to July this year, the total number of beggars was 7,635, with 65% being Thai and the rest foreign nationals. Most beggars operate in major urban areas and tourist hotspots, especially in Bangkok, Samut Prakan, Pathum Thani, Chon Buri, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Chiang Mai.
