Abstract
Despite the fact that begging is both worldwide and ancient phenomena, it is more insidious in developing countries. Regarding this, being one of the urban centers in developing countries, Mekelle city is not an exception because there are rampant incidences and practices of begging in general and itinerant begging in particular. The objective of this study, therefore, is analyzing the socio-economic characteristics of itinerant beggars in Mekelle city, Northern Ethiopia. Largely, qualitative research design was employed in this research to collect and analyze data. The study employed 120 samples selected using convenience sampling method and 10 interviewees from the beggardom population. Data was generated through the administration of structured questionnaire that consisted close and open ended query, qualitative in-depth interview and observation. Finally, data inquiry was analyzed using descriptive data analysis method presented in the form of tables, frequencies and percentages. The result revealed that although the itinerant beggars are characterized by socio-economic hardships, they involved in begging not because they couldn’t find other alternatives but they consider begging as a work. Thus, much more effort is needed to bring attitudinal change. Besides, an instrument should be devised on the regulation and governance of begging in general and itinerant begging in particular which can help avoid or reduce begging mainly by the non-handicapped section of the society. Keywords: Beggars, Itinerant begging, Mekelle City, Socio-economic Characteristics, Begging Strategies DOI: 10.7176/JPID/53-03 Publication date: March 31 st 2020
Highlights
The world is witnessing marvelous developments, improvements and transformations this brought huge poverty and income disparities (Dessalegn, 2017)
The demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the sampled respondents that include sex, age range, marital status, educational level, religion and residential background, average monthly income and the number of years the itinerant beggars spent for begging in the study area are expressed in terms of frequencies and percentages as presented here in the tables below
It presents the types of the begging strategies or techniques and their implication to the existing socioeconomic status of the itinerant beggars
Summary
The world is witnessing marvelous developments, improvements and transformations this brought huge poverty and income disparities (Dessalegn, 2017). Despite the fact that begging is both worldwide and ancient phenomena, it is more insidious in developing countries (Namwata et al, 2012; Frederick et al, 2016; Owusu-Sekyere et al, 2018; Khan, 2018). The physical disability and elderly of the beggar is socially appropriate reason for the success of the begging activity (Tatek, 2008; Tatek, 2011) For such people the main justification for begging is to meet their daily needs (Shimelis, 2015). Countries like Ghana have legally banned begging in all its forms (Owusu-Sekyere, Jengre & Alhassan, 2018) This may be aimed to encourage satisfying life necessities and beyond through one’s effort not by begging from others. Though such states declared begging as a problem, it gained social legitimacy especially for the most susceptible section of the community (Sayibu, 2013)
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