Unexpected encounter
so i was on my way to school. as i approached the bus stop, this rotund Malay lady accosted me and asked if i could speak Malay. i told her that i couldn't. then she started speaking in very simple and inaccurate English, asking me whether i know where she can go for help.
it turns out that this lady is what would be known as a hardship case. this is what i gathered from what she told me:
her husband, who was a drug addict, has just passed away. she has 3 children: 1 son in prison, another son is 17, mute and not doing anything and the youngest is a daughter who is schooling.
she has, apparently, no money. and she is medically unfit to work because she has just undergone an operation.
she is receiving aid via the RUAS (Rent and Utilities Assistance Scheme. this scheme is meant for people who are renting a flat from HDB. the scheme helps pay for the rent as well as the service and conservancy charges of the town council. the scheme also gives the recepient some vouchers to pay utilities bills) managed by the CDCs. however, this lady claims that she does not have money even to buy food for her children and herself.
it also turns out that this lady and her family actually stays in Bukit Merah. so what is she doing where i stay? the reason, i found out, was that her eldest son borrowed money from loansharks who has been harrassing her family and her, forcing her to move to stay with her late husband's friend.
i tried to think of a way to help her. the only ways i can think of are:
- long term financial assistance by the CDC
- one of the Family Service Centers to help
however, i realised that neither ways are going to be all that possible and effective. there was moment in my conversation with her when i almost felt that her situation is so hopeless that the only thing this lady could do was to... die.
but i did not tell her that of course. i took down her address (she doesn't have a telephone) and told her that i would look for her when i can think of ways which she can find help.
the whole incident perturbed me for a long time. not least because this lady is not the first nor the last case of this sort that i have seen. and i have come to understand that the roots of the problem are many and deep rooted. i also understand why the government's hands are tied when it comes to people like this lady. what, then, can be done to help this lady (and others like her) solve their problems completely (rather than treat the symptoms)?
i don't have any answers now. if anyone of my dear readers do, please share.
posted by rench00 at 3:50 PM
12 Comments:
Hi,
I'm just a random voyeur and happened to chance upon this post. I would like to try helping her. Maybe you could post her address on your blog?
5:21 PM
Are you crazy? asking people to post OTHER people's address in a public blog? A sense of discretion and respecting your future client's privacy is surely required for your supposedly stated future career right?
Otherwise, I guess you might be just one of those internet savvy dai-yee-long looking for victims online. Asswipe.
6:47 PM
social worker wannabe:
i appreciate your offer. but i have to agree with anonymous. if you want, you could email me, and i can arrange to meet this lady with you. my email address is rench00@gmail.com
anonymous:
perhaps social worker wannabe made a genuine mistake which did not deserve that harsh a tone. asswipe is a pretty strong word...
8:27 PM
Haha..one of the downfalls of anonymous identities on the Internet. Trust no one. Everyone's an asswipe until proven otherwise. Sounds like intense cynicism to me.
Ahh, who am I kidding. I'm just as guilty as mr anonymous.
But seriously, that sounds like one terrible case. How deep in shit do you have to be to not even own a telephone?? Isn't there some sort of welfare system for people in her case?
11:04 AM
clyde:
not owning a telephone is not the worst case that i have seen. i know of people who are well and truly penniless in Singapore. so bad that they are even without a roof over their heads.
there are very limited welfare systems for people like this. the government's hands are tied. and for very good reasons too. the welfare schemes such for these people would have to be financed and that would mean somewhere, something else would get less money. but where? the only thing i would sacrifice is expenditure on the Arts. but even that, i would be cautious to recommend.
so... this lady is in deep shit. i shall attempt to visit her on Tuesday after consulting with various people.
12:19 PM
Singapore is not a welfare state, Clyde. Say it every night before you go to bed...
I recall certain non-welfare services (remember, we're not a welfare state!)
Family Service Centre
Single Parent Family Service Centre
Counselling Centre
The kids might be eligible for the ST school fund as well as the School Social Work programme.
With the exception of the ST school fund thing, all the programmes mentioned are funded by the Community Chest. I'm sure all you need to do, rench, is to refer the issue to one of its case workers, who will try to find as many programmes possible to fit them in.
Frankly it's rather silly to cut expenditure on arts. We have a overfat defense budget - cut something from it first.
9:12 PM
oh yes... there's the Defence budget... but realistically, it will NEVER be cut (not that i agree with that... but...)
ST pocket money fund does not apply to ITE students.
i am thinking of referring her to a FSC to see how she can get help.
10:03 PM
Have you thought of any charities rather than govt organisations? Would there be any that she may be eligible for, such as for poverty and elderly people for example. I believe the Rotary Club and maybe even Salvation Army might help a person in such financial crisis with no one to depend on. As for the Rotary club, they're not really a charity organisation but I know they are involved in charity projects. I know because I once helped out in one where they were giving aid to the elderly. But Im not a member so I wouldn't know what their current fundraisers are.
As for Akikonomu's fact of the month, I will remember to recite that after prayer each night. But it doesn't make it any less shameful that a country is willing to prioritise its military and arts ambitions before its elderly population. Many of whom built the country up from the ground in the first place. Does she not receive some sort of pension? I know it's not a welfare state but I thought retired people get some sort of financial aid through CPF (is that the one?) or some other means. I recall someone saying to me once, it's ok to grow old and die in Singapore. Just don't die ill and poor.
12:58 AM
oh... she's not really elderly. more like... middle aged.
if i'm not wrong, FSC's are charities. but they are funded mostly by the government. Rotary Club runs one FSC near my place.
it's always the case, infinite demand, limited supply. which is not only restricted to money. it includes time as well. i shall write more about this in my next post. i am dead tired now, emotionally and physically drained.
2:25 AM
Look Clyde, you have to be reasonable, the PAP often recites the mantra that no one owes Singapore a Living, thus by extension, it would be not unreasonable to apply it to the citizens they supposedly serve.
Singapore is not a welfare state although our dear host here would like to point out the various welfare schemes she have.
1:39 PM
it is true that Singapore is not a welfare state. however, there are still many welfare (and now the newly termed workfare) schemes available. e.g. all the various programs under ComCare, including short and long term financial assistance, RUAS, etc.
and a lot of the 'welfare' does not come from the state but from charities, e.g. FSC's (though these FSC's are funded to a large extent by the government...).
and while it is true that noe one owes anyone a living, the government still has a duty to care for those who are, for one reason or another, disadvantaged. it is all part of nation building. cf my post on survival and how Singapore, being a modern society, is hierarchical and can only function if the bottom tier is taken care of and cooperates.
3:28 PM
Somehow I blame the blind anti-welfare ideology of Singapore's leaders.
8:10 AM
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