There are at least 5,000 beggars in Tehran who earn more than $100 a day, according to a recent national survey. Only 10 to 15 % of them are really in need. They are probably eating better than most working families, Tabnak News Agency reported.
Many of the beggars were previously employed but “they have abandoned their jobs to make a lot more money through begging.”
Most of the panhandlers in the capital are not Tehranis, and 55% of them earn pretty well. Also, more than 30% are in a beggary network using young children to beg for cash in streets and subway.
The figures indicate that 25% of the capital’s beggars are women.
