taken from
http://www.straitstimes.asia1.com/portal/site/STI/menuitem.c2aef3d65baca16abb31f610a06310a0/?vgnextoid=f832758920e39010VgnVCM1000000a35010aRCRD&vgnextfmt=vgnartid:dcc575ed0e38b010VgnVCM100000430a0a0aRCRD
I REFER to the article, 'Poverty: Generation next' (ST, May
27).
Most Singaporeans must be both surprised and shocked to read about
the 'underclass' plight of poverty, hunger and neglect in a First
World country like ours.
More significant, children born into such families have little
chance to escape the poverty trap, making it a vicious circle.
Unless parents buck up and show them the way, their children have
precious little resources to pull up their socks despite sincere
intervention by schools and social workers.
Having worked as a social worker aide in a family service centre, I
got to know first hand horrendous details of families in dire
straits. Most felt trapped and seemed unable to get out of their
situation. Naturally, most of their problems are financial, due to
either prolonged unemployment or insufficient income. Lowly
educated and unskilled, their chances of earning a decent income
are curtailed. Their choice of employment is also limited and their
wages are often at the mercy of unscrupulous employers.
Naturally, most find work a chore and have little job satisfaction.
By changing jobs frequently, they perpetuate the problem especially
during gaps of unemployment. Most I knew found jobs as cleaners,
dish washers or general workers. Work is more for survival than
satisfaction. They also do not have much left after paying
essential bills.
I knew of a family I visited who lived in darkness and without
water for a full month. They had four small children with the fifth
on the way. The children studied in the corridor in the evening and
mostly ate plain rice with ikan bilis. The children did not show
much confidence in life let alone their studies.
The family was waiting for the wages of the breadwinner father to
pay the utilities bill. When asked how much he earned, I was
shocked to learn that he earned only $750 as a delivery assistant
working a six-day work week. I later realised he owed Singapore
Power only $150.
Even with social assistance like The Straits Times School Pocket
Money Fund for the children, this family struggled to meet their
basic needs. More significant, the psychological and emotional
trauma for the children was irreparable. Unless they can harness
strength from within themselves to see beyond their present
situation, they will continue to struggle in their poverty. In my
tour of duty as a social worker aide, these similar scenarios were
frighteningly played out numerous times.
Many families that struggle in Singapore have a sick or
unemployable breadwinner. People who suffer from cancer, stroke,
mental illness or heart disease come to mind. With the sudden onset
of a dreadful calamity, the family livelihood is affected as the
job seeker is either retrenched or his services terminated. Social
assistance provides only a pitiful amount for a limited period.
Assistance seekers also feel shameful to ask for more. Some have to
downgrade their flats to reduce their obligations. Many housewives
come out to find jobs for the first time adding to the family
instability.
As Singapore continues to prosper and the economy attains First
World status, let us not forget that in the forsaken closet, many
families have problems paying for utilities, eking out enough to
put three meals on the table and trying to stay sane in spite all
that has happened.
I salute the Government for trying to engage the poor in order to
solve some of their problems. Social service agencies like the
community development councils, family service centres, schools,
self-help groups like Mendaki, Sinda and Chinese Development
Assistance Council should work together closer than before. My
previous experience was that social service agencies worked rather
autonomously when information sharing ought to be the way. When
agencies carry out their duties selflessly for the good of the
people they serve, the poor here will have a better chance to
escape the poverty trap.
Gilbert Goh Keow Wah
my point is, the family since they are already so poor. Why are
they keep having children when they could not afford it. You may
love children but issit fair to them to derive them of a proper and
happy childhood, and perhaps a good education.
So if you are poor, please, one is enuff. Dun make ur children
suffer with u