A former Rotary Club president in Fiji has welcomed a suggestion by the interim Welfare Minister to criminalise giving cash to children begging on the streets.
The interim ministry is planning to introduce the new policy to get begging children off the streets.
Elisabeth Clayton says many parents send their children into the streets to beg to avoid employment, despite receiving enough support from welfare agencies.
She says that's unacceptable.
"If these were battlers, I would be right behind behind them. But they're not battlers. Anything that can stop the exploitation of children is a good thing. If this will prevent children being exploited by parents, relatives or others on the streets then I welcome the suggestion by the minister."
Elisabeth Clayton says there are many parents who have adopted this type of behaviour.
