In recent times we all know that the economy is rather bad. And what have happen is our Governement is trying to help us Singaporeans. Which is a very good thing cause a lot of people are barely surviving.
The Government have introduce many policies, from subsidies to grants and even handing out money. But there is a problem. Before i address these problem, I would like to applaud the Government for being quick to help all Singaporeans and even touching the reserves
If you live in the heartlands from young, you will realise that in the market or neighbourhood the first language is either Chinese or Hokkien. I can confirm with you that you wont hear 2 aunties conversing in English, if you is only when you go Macdonald and the auntie converse in English with you. Even then, if they know that you understand Chinese they will still try to speak to you in Chinese. Another thing about heartland aunties and uncles are that most of them sadly did not have the opportunity to go to school during their younger times. So they do not know how to read and write. If they do not know how to read and write, how the hell are the going to make out the complicated grants/policies/subsidies?! Yes, every letter we receive regarding these lifelines(grants etc), is in 4 languages. BUT didnt i just mention a lot of auntie and uncles don’t know how to read. Even though I know how to read but honestly it is complicated and many questions will appear in my head after reading.
The economy have gone so bad but it is not the fault of the lay man or the uncle and aunties who drink 60 cents kopi in the coffeeshop. It is caused by professionals(they should change their name to pok-fessionals) who wear damn smart, speak very good english. So in my point of view, these uncle aunties who got caught in the cross fire should be the ones who are entitled to be save first. Why now kopi $1 the aunties and uncle must absorb?? Fair? Auntie uncle never invest in coffee beans futures leh.
So since auntie and uncles are the ones who truely deserves to be help, why isnt there more awareness for them? Its the same the last time round, many people miss out on registering and claiming the money the Governement was giving out. Off hand i can count 5-6 old people who dont know what is going on. They only know that Governement 1st March give money lor. Maybe they could get better benefits, but they do not know because no one have explain to them. I think something should be done, like door to door visits, visiting the older estates like Tao Payoh. They should try to maximise they help given out by the Government, and not the professionals who started all these.
I don’t mind volunteering myself to explain to the older generation about the benefits they are eligible to.