HIBAPRESS – Mohamed Boudhan
The phenomenon of begging in Jerrada is no longer just isolated individual cases met with sympathy or charity, but has turned – according to consistent testimonies from a number of citizens – into behaviors that are sometimes characterized by excessive insistence, and even verbal or physical violence in some cases. Scenes that are repeated in front of commercial stores, near administrations, and in the vicinity of markets and mosques, raising a central question: Who protects the Jerrada citizen from begging that turns into harassment?
A number of those affected confirm that the matter is no longer linked to poverty alone, but to the presence of strange faces from the city, moving in groups, and using methods of psychological pressure on women, the elderly, and car owners. Cases that citizens describe as "emotional extortion" that goes beyond the limits of human need, to enter the category of harassment and indirect threat.
Legally, begging in itself remains a complex social situation, but when it is coupled with coercion or the exploitation of children or the formation of organized networks, it turns into a security issue that requires clear intervention from the competent authorities, foremost of which is the General Directorate of National Security, along with the local authorities affiliated with the Ministry of Interior.
However, the security approach alone, although necessary, remains insufficient. The problem is deeper than just removing beggars from one point to another. There are real questions about the source of this phenomenon: Is it related to seasonal internal migration? Are there networks that transport people between cities? Or is the matter a direct reflection of increasing social fragility?
The effective treatment of this phenomenon requires the adoption of an integrated approach that combines legal firmness by organizing field campaigns to control aggressive behaviors, and monitoring any exploitation of children or people in a vulnerable situation, and the social dimension by activating economic integration and vocational training programs and establishing temporary reception spaces for humanitarian cases instead of leaving them exposed to the street, in addition to establishing a responsible societal awareness based on not encouraging organized begging through random giving, and directing support towards organized and transparent charitable initiatives that guarantee dignity and efficiency at the same time.
Protecting the dignity of the needy is a humanitarian duty, but protecting the security and tranquility of the citizen is a duty of no less importance. Between these two principles, the real bet in Jerrada remains to find a fair balance that preserves the city's image and the residents' right to a safe and organized public space.
The city that aspires to real development and attracting investment cannot accept the transformation of its public spaces into daily hotbeds of tension. What is required today is not fleeting circumstantial campaigns, but a clear and sustainable vision that addresses the roots before the results, and puts the citizen's interest at the heart of the priorities.
