Address by Mr Dinesh Vasu Dash, Minister of State, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Manpower, Mayor, South East District, at the SINDA Excellence Awards 2025 on 20 September 2025, at Nanyang Polytechnic

To all the 846 participants and award winners today – I think it is a great testament to the work that SINDA does as well. And it shows that we have got talent within our community and that numbers are growing, which is very heartening.

Members of the SINDA Board of Trustees; particularly Mr S Chandradas;

SINDA CEO, Mr Anbarasu Rajendran;

Guests, Award Recipients and Family Members.

Opening

1. A very good morning, and I am truly delighted to join all of you at today’s SINDA Excellence Awards 2025, or SEA.

2. Today, we celebrate not only your achievements, but also your values, determination — and most importantly, the spirit of changemaking — that carried you to where you are today.

3. You should be proud. You have worked hard, overcome challenges, and forged your own pathways to success. Today, SINDA celebrates not just your accomplishments, but the resilience and courage that define that journey.

4. At the same time, we must also honour the people behind you – your parents, loved ones, teachers, tutors and mentors. They believed in you, stood by you, and gave you the strength to keep going. And it is that collective support has enabled our students to flourish and thrive.

5. I think you’ll agree with me that the parents and loved ones here today deserve a round of applause as well.

Celebrating Success & Progress of Indian Students

6. According to the most recent Education Statistics Digest[1] by the Ministry of Education, Indian students have made and sustained and commendable progress across the education journey. From strong progress rates from Primary 1 to post-secondary education, to consistent performance at the PSLE, GCE O-Level, as well as the N(A)- and N(T)-Level exams, our students continue to do well across the board. These achievements reflect the community’s collective commitment to learning, resilience, and academic growth.

SINDA Excellence Awards – Significance & Growth

7. This year, we are exceptionally proud of the 846 recipients across 20 categories – a clear reflection of the growth of our community, and the breadth of our students’ achievements compared to previous years.

8. Notably:

• • we see more students receiving the Sinda Excellence Award award for post-secondary and tertiary level — including those from Junior Colleges, ITE, Polytechnics, LASALLE College of the Arts Degree categories, as well as graduates from overseas universities. This is a good reflection of the progress that we have made.

• • 50 recipients are receiving the award for the second or even third time — demonstrating that they are consistent in their excellence, resilience, and dedication over the years.

• • 5 recipients are also receiving special mentions for their exceptional performance in sports.

9. For over three decades, the SINDA Excellence Awards have honoured these success stories, and is a testament to how far we’ve come, and how much further we have to go.

Resilience Amidst Adversity – Profiles

10. Our recipients today are more than high achievers — many have faced illnesses, hardships, or personal setbacks. What sets them apart is their ability to transform adversity into purpose, rising not just for themselves, but also to uplift others.

11. Among our recipients today is 21-year-old Swasthi Trinity Govinda Rajan, an ITE Higher Nitec graduate whose journey exemplifies this extraordinary perseverance. At nine years of age, Swasthi was diagnosed with cancer and suffered a stroke — a devastating combination that robbed her of the ability to perform basic tasks like reading, writing, and even speaking. Yet, with sheer determination and the unwavering support of her loved ones, she painstakingly had to relearn each skill — step by step, word by word.

12. Today, she is a para-athlete with the national shooting team, and a proud Higher Nitec SEA Award recipient. She has also gone on to pursue a polytechnic diploma. Swasthi’s journey reminds us that with courage, support, and a determined heart, no obstacle is insurmountable. I think Swasthi deserves a second round of applause.

13. Our next recipient is 18-year-old Acherakar Om Nitin, an International Baccalaureate award recipient with a deep sense of purpose shaped by personal experience. Growing up with an older brother who lives with Angelman Syndrome — a rare neuro-genetic disorder that affects speech, movement, and behaviour — Om witnessed firsthand the daily challenges and quiet triumphs that come with caregiving.

14. There are many among us who may be caregivers, and I want to just say that it is a tremendous responsibility to be a caregiver. All of us will be caregivers someday, and we do deserve to support our caregivers. Success stories like Om give us much confidence to support our caregivers even further.

15. Motivated to make systems more inclusive, Om launched a student-led initiative that raised funds and created real social impact — all while completing National Service, where he now trains as a Specialist Cadet. His journey reflects how lived experience can shape meaningful change. I would like to send my personal congratulations to Om. Congratulations, Om!

16. And finally, last but not the least of course, this year’s valedictorian — Karthikasan Natarajan — is someone that many of you may already recognise from the video earlier. His story is one of quiet strength, deep purpose, and tireless pursuit. During his National Service, Karthikasan faced one of his life’s most difficult chapters — his father was battling cancer, and the emotional strain made his NS journey an uphill one. Yet, he pressed on.

17. After National Service, he restarted his academic path and went on to break new ground at Yale-NUS. Beyond academics, Karthikasan has also been an active senior volunteer with SINDA, supporting youth programmes and mentoring efforts. He is not just a shining student — he is one of our SINDA’s very own beneficiaries, who has grown through the system and now gives back. You’ll hear more from him shortly, but I think he is an inspiration to all of us. And once again, please join me in giving a round of applause to Karthikasan.

18. Together, Swasthi, Om, and Karthikasan represent the very best of our youth — turning adversity into opportunity, sparking change in their communities, and pursuing their dreams with conviction.

Definitions of Success

These stories also remind us that success is broader, deeper and more diverse than ever before.

19. We want to provide every Singaporean with the opportunity to chart their own paths — to pursue their aspirations and become the best versions of themselves. Today, with a diversified economy, there are many career pathways and possibilities for youths to explore.

20. Each of you have your strengths and talents. And what matters is the ability to follow them with purpose, strive to reach your fullest potential, and continually have the spirit of lifelong learning throughout this journey.

Closing

21. I am extremely proud of all the SEA recipients today – every single one of you. Your success is shared by all of us here, and please remember that your community is always behind you. Once you reach pinnacles of success, do remember to give back to the society that has given a lot to you.

22. Congratulations once again, and may you soar to greater heights. Thank you.