By Okey Maduforo
Street children at Arroma junction in Awka Capital Anambra State would be returning to school following the clearing of the area of urchins by the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority ACTDA.
Recall that towards the end of the immediate past administration in Anambra state there was an influx of street children who hang around the area begging for alms for m members of the public and causing traffic jam at the heart of the state capital.
There had in the past reported cases of phone and hand bag snatching by suspected street urchins, a development that do not speak well of a Capital City.
This development has attracted commendations to the Gov Charles Soludo administration from members of the public who had in the past been lamenting over the activities of the street children.
According to Mr Chuka Nnorum the Coordinator of Child Care Initiative CCI who spoke to reporters commended the Anambra state government for it’s drive towards social reorientation and ridding of the urchins out of the street noting that this move is a step in the right direction to avert the growth of touts and hoodlums in the Capita City.
“This is a welcome development and we commend the Governor for that and we advise their parents and relatives to send them back to school or engage them in the One Youth Two Skills program of the state government or take advantage of the free education policy of government to send them back to school” he said.
Similarly those that use the children as street peddlers of goods have been warned to desist from such acts as government would apply the full weight of the law on them .
According to the statement by the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority ACTDA it stated that ;
“Hence forth ACTDA strongly warns all individuals and groups to desist from distributing any form of alms or gifts to the destitutes in public spaces”
“Rather we urge all charitable acts to be channeled through accredited organizations such as orphanages , care homes and registered Non Governmental Organizations where support can be professionally administered to those in need or their private homes and spaces that do not constitute nuisance”
“Be advised that anyone caught engaging in the open distribution of items to destitutes in public spaces within the Awka Capital Territory will be deemed to be enabling civil disorder and will be prosecuted in accordance with the law” it stated.
