The Social Reality and Livelihoods of Beggar Community in Kampung Baru Pasuruan East Java

Beggar is a social phenomenon concern by Indonesian people today. In Indonesia there is some areas where many of their citizens survive as beggars. This area famously known as the Kampung Pengemis or Beggar hamlet. One of Kampung Pengemis in East Java Province named “Kampung Baru” located in Sidowayah subdistrict, Beji, Pasuruan, East Java. The purpose of this study is to describe the social reality and history of Kampung Baru, the characteristics of beggar in Kampung Baru, the reasons why many Kampung Baru people use begging for the main livelihood, and the impact of begging for Kampung Baru people. The research was conducted with qualitative methods using a social construction approach. The results showed that the reason of begging by Kampung Baru residents due the limitations of natural and human resources. Kampung Baru formerly is an area for relocated homeless people from town which all having low education and skills. Kampung Baru natural condition also poor, this area have minimal water resources so the residents cannot operate a farming and plantation business. This all make the beggar activity is better to do than become jobless. Associated with social construction theory, it is known that people of Kampung Baru continue to be beggars due to the absence of social sanctions from the community. Begging is seen by the community as a reasonable activity so that it can inherited to the child and offspring. The begging activities carry by Kampung Baru citizen turned out have a negative impact for the society. The citizens tend to have a lazy tendence, enjoying practical things, and can not able to form a good social bonds. Begging activity that do every day up to night causing the majority of residents in Kampung Baru rarely interact with neighbors. This in turn raises the individualist attitude of this society. Keywords—beggar hamlet, interaction, and social construction.