76-year old cardboard lady in Singapore

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.

Author: Gerald Giam

Gerald Giam is the Member of Parliament for Aljunied GRC. He is the Head of Policy Research of the Workers' Party of Singapore. The opinions expressed on this page are his alone.

3 thoughts on “76-year old cardboard lady in Singapore”

  1. 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

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