By S Ramesh
Among the constituencies, the Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng ward under the Jalan Besar Group Representation Constituency has the largest number of rental homes - nearly 4,500 - and half of its residents are 50 years and older.
And its MP, Dr Lily Neo describes the task of finding jobs for these elderly residents as a challenge, on top of helping the hardship cases that she encounters during the meet-the-people sessions.
Said Dr Neo: "Some even ask for milk powder funding, and some just say, 'Can I have some money to sustain me for the next week?' It sounds strange in Singapore... (but) yes, I am meeting these problems here."
To help these residents, the ward has set up a social enterprise programme which pays participants $5 an hour to undergo training in craftmanship. The final products are sold on the market. Currently, 30 residents are on the programme, which will be officially launched next Sunday during a ministerial community visit by Law Minister K Shanmugam.
The ward also has a meal and grocery programme targeted at the elderly and needy, which involves nearly 200 hawkers, sundry shops and supermarkets in the area.
Under this programme, which was started in September 2007, vouchers in denominations of $2 are redeemable at neighbourhood stalls. So far, $223,638 worth of vouchers have been distributed to about 200 needy residents.
With the next General Election due by February 2012, Dr Neo, who entered politics in 1996, was asked whether she would be contesting it.
Adding that the decision lies with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Dr Neo said: "(I) feel fulfilled in my work here as I have been able to work with so many needy people. It's great that I have been able to make a difference to them."
Source: Today Online - 13th October, 2010
URL: http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC101013-0000084/MP-to-launch-social-enterprise-programme
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