>> They are Singaporeans in their 70s and 80s who have no kin. Even with help
>> from the Public Assistance (PA) scheme, they still survive only by skipping
>> one meal a day.
>> .
>> This group of people was very much on Dr Lily Neo's mind on Friday, when she
>> questioned the Government on its plans to help the needy.
>> .
>> The Jalan Besar Member of Parliament (MP) stood out as the voice of
>> strongest dissatisfaction with the plans by the Ministry of Community
>> Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) to raise the amount of public
>> assistance by between $30 and $115 a month to those who have no means of
>> income due to age, illness or disability.
>> .
>> The MCYS said it had crafted these increments in line with inflation and the
>> impending Goods and Services Tax hike.
>> .
>> Said Dr Neo: "My senior constituents told me they need to skip one meal a
>> day (so as to manage on the monthly PA amount of $260), and now, MCYS is
>> going to give them $1 more a day. But $1 a day will not be able to buy them
>> a meal in any hawker centre."
>> .
>> Not content with Minister Vivian Balakrishnan's reply that the PA
>> entitlements have to be kept low so as not to erode the incentive to work,
>> Dr Neo remarked that "surely this argument shouldn't be applied to PA
>> recipients because this group of people can never work".
>> .
>> She added: "Shouldn't providing three meals a day be a priority of his
>> promise (to help the poor cope with higher costs of living)?"
>> .
>> And as Dr Neo persisted for the third time, Dr Balakrishnan asked: "How much
>> do you want?"
>> .
>> He said there was "enough, by and large" for most of the recipients to get
>> by on the current PA scheme. There was also a wide spectrum of help
>> available for those in greater distress.
>> .
>> Even so, Mr Sin Boon Ann (Tampines Group Representation Constituency)
>> observed: "The fact remains that we come across people who are hungry, left
>> out, and who basically have fallen through the cracks."
>> .
>> Dr Balakrishnan reiterated that in helping the disadvantaged, everyone ¡ª
>> from grassroot and voluntary welfare organisations to "compassionate"
>> individuals and the Government ¡ª has a role to play.
>> .
>> As for the perennial debate over how much help the Government should give,
>> the minister said: "Let us bear in mind that the system is set out with a
>> certain amount of tension, and it is a healthy tension.
>> .
>> "In fact, I cannot resist saying that I'm very disappointed that in the
>> whole debate on MCYS, the Opposition MPs have not participated, and I've
>> actually faced real, probing questions, all from the PAP (People's Action
>> Party) MPs and the Nominated MPs.
>> .
>> "Perhaps (the Opposition MPs) totally agree with my policies, my philosophy
>> and my programmes," Dr Balakrishnan said, to laughter in the House.
>> .
>> To which Ms Sylvia Lim, the sole Non-Constituency MP and Workers' Party
>> chairman, replied: "Sir, I'd just like to respond to the minister that there
>> are still four years to go."
>
> Ah Kong, forumer
ofhttp://forums.delphiforums.com/sammyboymod/messages
> POSTED:
>
> Marked drop in elderly suicide rate last year
> Posted: 15 February 2007 2105 hrs
>
> SINGAPORE: In the last five years, an average of 65 elderly people
> committed suicide each year in Singapore.
>
> However, when the statistics for the last two years were compared,
> there was a marked drop in such suicides.
>
> It went down from 77 cases in 2005 to 52 cases in 2006.
>
> The elderly is defined as those above 65 years of age.
>
> Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Dr Vivian
> Balakrishnan said the elderly suicide rate is 24 per 100,000 elderly
> residents, and this has been a relatively stable figure over the past
> five years.
>
> National figures also show that male elderly suicide rates are
> consistently higher than that for females.
>
> It is a conclusion that is consistent with research findings across
> different cultures.
>
> Dr Balakrishnan gave the updates in his written answer to a
> parliamentary question raised by MP for Tampines GRC, Irene Ng.
>
> As to the reasons for elderly suicides, Dr Balakrishnan said studies
> show that health problems and depression were the main reasons, and
> these apply to both genders.
>
> - CNA/so
>
> My comment:
> [[[ If the elderly were well taken care of their health problems by
> the government as the Prime Minister has promised, then I do not see
> depression would have set in. Hence, to say that health problems and
> depression were the main reasons for the elderly suicides are excuses
> is to negate the promise of the government to take care of the
> welfare
> of the elderly, Dr Balakrishnan.
>
> Dr Blakrishnan, you must know that CDCs does not provide financial
> aid
> sufficiently to the poor elderly to help them cope with their last
> days but with job to support themselves even at the age above 80. And
> for those who are not healthy enough to work, will you enlighten us
> as
> to whether the poor elderly are taken care of well enough so that
> they are not stressed enough to commit suicides?
>
> Finally, God will ask you and the rest:"where is the monEY supposed
> to be set aside for welfare of the poor, the sick and the elderly
> gone
> to?".]]]
>
> Sgporean- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
