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THIS BOOK MAINLY FOCUSED ON ASSESSING HOW STREET BEGGING IS BECOMING ONE OF THE DEVELOPMENT HINDERING FACTORS IN MOST DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AND SPECIALLY IN ETHIOPIA.IT IN DETAIL INVESTIGATE THE LIVING CONDITION OF STREET BEGGARS OF SHASHEMENE, ONE OF THE MAJOR TOWNS OF ETHIOPIA. THE FINDINGS OF THE RESEARCH WORK INDICATE THAT STREET BEGGING IS BECOMING ONE OF THE LIVELIHOOD STRATEGIES OF STREET BEGGARS WHO LIVE AND BEG ON MAIN STREETS, AROUND CHURCH AND MOSQUE COMPOUNDS, TRAFFIC LIGHTS, MAJOR BUSINESS AREAS LIKE MARKETS, SUPERMARKETS AND OTHERS. DUE TO DIFFERENT FACTORS MANY INDIVIDUALS -CHILDREN,YOUNGSTERS AND ELDERS ARE FOUND BEING ENGAGED IN BEGGING ACTIVITY IN THE TOWN,SHASHEMENE. THE FINDING ALSO INDICATE THAT THE MAIN PARTICIPANTS OF THE ACTIVITY ARE THE YOUTH GROUP,THE ACTIVE WORKING FORCE OF THE POPULATION.THIS HAS ITS OWN IMPLICATION ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NATION,ETHIOPIA. HENCE, THE CONCERNED PEOPLE, ORGANIZATIONS-GOs AND NGOs HAVE THEIR OWN RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE LIFE OF STREET BEGGARS. THIS RESEARCH WORK IS BELIEVED TO GIVE INSIGHT ABOUT THE PROBLEM FOR AUDIENCES AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE WORKING ON IT.

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Fitsum Dechasa (MA Degree in Development Studies,Specialized in Environment and Development,from Addis Ababa University)Lecturer at Bahirdar University; Ethiopia.

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