76-year old cardboard lady in Singapore
By Gerald Giam
1 September 2009 | 1,766 Views | 3 Comments | 
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This AFP news clip has appeared in several other blogs, but I think it’s worth re-posting it here. It’s so sad to see this. Is this the way our nation treats the people who helped build it?
To provide public assistance to all elderly Singaporeans in this situation will be but a drop in the bucket for the government. Instead the criteria for receiving public assistance is that you have to be completely destitute and without any family who can assist you.
Despite all the need out there like the old lady in the clip, there are only 3,000 people in the whole of Singapore who are receiving public assistance to the tune of $260 a month. That adds up to $780,000 a month, which is much less than a Minister gets paid in one year.
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I am a member of the Workers' Party. I blog in my personal capacity about policy issues in Singapore. 
September 1st, 2009 at 8:22 AM
Shame on us, Govt. S$260 a month works to abt $8 a day, which is ridiculouly too low, for food, utilities/etc.
We are suppose to be developed or deveoping developed nation, compassionate, caring society & yet we are giving them pittance…
We, citizens follow the examples set by the tops- Gov’t.
Let us be a kind nation & be more generous to our own people. Cheers, John
September 1st, 2009 at 11:29 AM
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September 5th, 2009 at 11:08 AM
[...] – TOC: Is the Public Assistance scheme adequate for elderly folks? – Gerald Giam’s Blog: 76-year old cardboard lady in Singapore – The Temasek Review: Embedding for AFP video on 76 year old Singapore street scavenger “disabled [...]