Clash over Kandy trash

Objections to company employing beggars for clean up

By Shane Seneviratne

Disagreements have arisen between the authorities and the private company entrusted with clearing garbage in Kandy town over the employment by the company of beggars to help in the work. While the authorities are keen to rid the town of street dwellers as a part of its plan to give Kandy a face lift, the private company said its decision to employ beggars has helped them to improve their living conditions.

Kandy District Secretary Gotabhaya Jayaratne said because the private company was employing beggars, it had become difficult to rid the streets of their presence. He said he informed the Town Planning Committee of the Municipality of this problem.

Under the planned Kandy Town Development Programme, street dwellers have to be removed. When asked about this problem, ‘Carekleen’ company official Bandula Peelakumbura said by giving employment to beggars, his company had solved the problems of these people by at least 50 per cent.

“We pay them on the 10th of each month and it discourages them from begging,” he said. He added these beggars also collect plastic materials and other items and make money by selling them. He said beggars who gather at places such as Torrington Gardens, the Kandy Lake sluice gate, Bird Park and the Central Market have become noted for polluting these places but said beggars from these areas don’t work for his company.

When asked if the children of beggars who work for his company were also employed by the company, the official said he was unaware of the family links of the employees. “If they have the national identity card and have the strength to work, we employ them,” he said. “The service that we do is not done by any other organisation. We are providing a humane service to these people,” he said.