The Ministry of Social Affairs is keeping a close watch, both financial and administrative, on the performance of charitable societies all over the Kingdom. “We are watching these societies. We are dealing with them in good faith because we appreciate the efforts the philanthropists exert in financing and running these charities and the precious time they spend in caring for needy people,” Dr. Yusuf Al-Uathaimeen, Minister of Social Affairs, said here. The minister was talking to newsmen at an Iftar party for orphan children organized by the Ministry at its building in Al-Daraia on Thursday. He said all charitable societies are bound to function in accordance with the ministry's rules and instructions. “There are some violations but, at times, they are inadvertent. Any willing violation attracts immediate punitive action,” he said. About the menace of beggary, the minister said 85 percent of the beggars are non-Saudis. He stressed that the ministry studies the conditions of Saudi beggars and promptly deals with their cases. On the proposed privatization plan of the ministry, the minister said any charitable society with proven potential to run any of the ministry's institutions or branches will have a chance to work on behalf of the ministry. – Okaz __
