A guy caught hawking on the street
I agree that Hawking comes with it's problems. It litters our streets, it puts citizens at risk of counterfeit product, it exposes women to rape etc. I agree. But do you take the breast away from the child when you don't have a feeding bottle handy?
On the streets today I saw hawkers and a few street sellers running my way. I knew what It meant, I had seen it before. The regulatory agency was around. This guy selling apples was unlucky. He got caught.
I couldn't get a better shot for fear of being caught.
Those apples most have been worth a lot. An apple is about N100, there could have been about 100+ in that wheel-barrow. His wife and kids might have been waiting at home for Daddy to bring home a little money for dinner. That money will likely be spent to free his goods.
We say the youths are lazy. We haven't provided enough jobs and the people who want to create jobs for themselves are not given a chance. Am not in support of Hawking especially with children. But the solution to adult hawking is not to pursue them from corner to corner.
With what this guy does, he is most likely able to feed his family, pay rent and if he's profitable enough, pay his child's school fee. It's far better than engaging in criminal activities.
He looks helplessly as his goods are about to be packed away
If we say we are a city and we don't want them around, then we should do what other big cities do; provide jobs.
Cut the tree from the roots.
Its quite sad. I see this happen everyday in my hood too. A guy or girl sets up a petty trade to keep body and soul going and then one body swoops down to destroy their effort all in the bid to sanitize the environment, yet we wonder why crime rate is in the increase.
Like you rightly pointed out, if they must be chased off the streets, then fitting alternatives should be provided, otherwise the government should leave them the hell alone.
The think they are "cleaning" the streets...to me it's "dirtying" the streets with crime. Thanks dear for stopping by.