Sanur, Not for the Begging

(6/19/2011)

The headman of the village of Sanur, Bali, I.B. Alit Surya Antara, is quoted by Bisnis Bali as boasting that his community is free of beggars and hawkers.

Antara’s statements was made during a visit to Sanur by the head of the Social Services Department, members of the Denpasar House of Representative (DPRD-Denpasar) and a group of 15 social workers visiting Bali from the province of Riau, Sumatra.

Alit told his visitors that there is little tolerance for beggars or hawkers in Sanur. According to Alit: “The tourists don’t want to be bothered by beggars or hawkers. When there are beggars in the community, we immediately call the local security force to take action.”

Made Patra of the Association of Community Social Workers (PSM) of Sanur said the local community had done much to deal social problem in Sanur. The Sanur PSM was named among the ten best organizations of its kind in all of Indonesia. Working with other groups in the community, the Sanur PSM has  held  seminars on HIV/AIDS, briefings on the dangers of narcotics and conducted free medical clinics have been conducted in Sanur.

Community action programs for planting trees, restoring coral reefs, turtle conservation and mobilization of beachside communities also form a part of Sanur’s key to community solidarity.