SINGAPORE: The
Central Singapore CDC and Maybank Singapore have launched a new Get-to
School Transport Grant for needy secondary school students.
The grant is worth S$100,800.
Over
next three years, up to 300 students from secondary schools in the
Central Singapore district will receive S$360 each annually to subsidise
their transport costs under the assistance scheme.
Minister of
State (Finance & Transport) Josephine Teo gave away grants to the
first 65 beneficiaries at a launch event Saturday at Resorts World
Sentosa.
The students came from five secondary schools: Outram
Secondary School, Henderson Secondary School, Queensway Secondary
School, Beatty Secondary School and Mayflower Secondary School.
The
transport grant will be administered by each secondary school, and each
school will be required to submit regular reports detailing the
utilisation of the grants for governance purposes.
Speaking at
the event, Mrs Teo told the audience of students, teachers and parents
that for her, out of the 60 over speeches and 20 hours of debate on the
budget, what struck her most was how many people felt it was important
to treasure the value of looking out for one another.
This is
where she said everyone has a role to play in achieving an inclusive
society and a stronger Singapore which Mrs Teo feels is two sides of the
same coin.
SINGAPORE: A new
programme has been launched to offer needy residents in the Ang Mo
Kio-Hougang constituency more options to move around.
Called
MediWheels, the programme aims to provide a highly-subsidised and
affordable community medical transport service to frail, needy elderly
and residents with special needs.
They will pay S$5 to S$30 for a two-way trip.
MediWheels
also includes a mobility scooter rental scheme to enhance community
interaction for needy residents with mobility limitations, and a medical
concierge service where volunteers will befriend and also accompany
elderly on their medical appointments.
The programme is funded by Central Singapore CDC and sponsors.
It
will undergo a six-month trial in Ang Mo Kio-Hougang constituency
before rolling out to Ang Mo Kio GRC and Sengkang West SMC .
MediWheels
was launched on Sunday by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong , who is also
the Adviser to Ang Mo Kio GROs, Sam Tan, Mayor of Central Singapore
District and Yeo Guat Kwang, Adviser to Ang Mo Kio-Hougang GROs at the
AAC Intergeneration Carnival.
"Many residents with elderly
parents tell me that they find it difficult to transport their
wheelchair-bound elderly parents for their medical check-ups. Apart from
the financial cost of taking a taxi, they also have to take leave from
work. This prompted me to think about how we can help - not just in
providing transport and medical escort services - but also in ensuring
the safety and well-being of the elderly," said Mr Yeo, in explaining
the conception of the MediWheels programme.
Going forward, to
provide additional social support and care, grassroots leaders and
volunteers from Ang Mo Kio-Hougang constituency will help accompany
seniors for their medical appointments and relay doctor's instructions
to family members under a medical concierge service.
This way,
family members need not apply for leave and can rest assured their
elderly parents or loved ones are well taken care of.
Needy residents will also benefit from the MediWheels mobility scooter rental scheme.
For
just S$10 a month, needy residents with mobility limitations can rent
motorised wheelchairs and mobility scooters to go out of their house and
move around in the neighbourhood.
"This enhances their interaction with the community, and increases their independence and confidence", said Mr Yeo.
Each scooter costs between S$1,500 to S$3,000.
One such beneficiary of MediWheels is 56-year-old Tan Kim Seng, an amputee.
After his leg was amputated, he fell into depression as he could no longer move around freely and felt trapped in the house.
With
the mobility scooter component of MediWheels, he can now rent a
mobility scooter and look forward to zipping around in the
neighbourhood, catching up with his friends and regaining his
independence.
The Central Singapore CDC is funding the MediWheels programme for S$100,000.
