Speech for SINDA Appreciation Ceremony by Mr K Shanmugam SC, Chairman, SINDA, Saturday, 19 April 2025

 

President, SINDA

SINDA Board of Trustees & EXCO CEO, SINDA

Distinguished Guests Ladies and Gentlemen

 

Introduction

1. Good afternoon to all of you.

 

2. We are here today – this is one of the key events that SINDA organises – because we are nothing without our volunteers and partners. We want to honour you and your contributions to the very noble mission that SINDA has, which becomes each of your missions too.

 

3. Our partners, volunteers and donors – you are the backbone of SINDA. You are the reason why SINDA is a respectable and good organisation that has delivered real value and improvement on the ground.

 

Progress of Indian Community

4. I have shared these statistics with the Trustees, the EXCO and some members.

 

5. We want to see, in many different ways, what the statistics, and what the progress has been.

 

6. I would say the progress of the Indian community has been good. For those who have seen the Indian community in the 70s and 80s, and even the early 90s, if you look at where the community is today, it is very heartening.

 

7. We start with education, which is a core component of SINDA.

 

8. Based on our population census, the percentage of degree holders among the resident Indian community in the 20 years from 2000 to 2020 has increased by about 2.5 times, from 17.5% to 41% out of those 25 and above. 4 out of 10 Indians are graduates.

 

9. Some of it is due to immigration. But a significant number is also due to the way in which the community has improved.

 

10. In the same period and the same age groups, in the 20 years from 2000 to 2020, those who have got out of school with less than secondary education fell by half. In 2000, 38% left school without full secondary education. That has come down to 18% in 2020. We can do better because one in five is still too much, but it isn’t four in ten.

 

11. In 2023, an estimated 96% of our Indian Primary 1 cohort progressed to post-secondary studies. So pretty much everyone goes to post-secondary. We now have created different pathways – ITE, polytechnic, university. University is not the gold standard – you can go to ITE, polytechnic. From polytechnic, you can go to university too. Our graduates are in very high demand.

 

12. If you look at a second measure – the nominal median monthly household income in the resident Indian community. That has increased by a very substantial 40% in the 10 years between 2010 and 2020. If you look at the 10 years, it was $6,000 in 2010 and $8,500 in 2020.

 

13. I can go on to talk about flat sizes – the average Indian household is now in 4-room or bigger. We can look at other matrixes. On the whole, the community has progressed very significantly.

 

14. A lot of it is due to the job opportunities, and the ability of the community to access those job opportunities largely through improved educational performance.

 

15. SINDA doesn’t and cannot take credit for all of it – there are Government programmes, schools, and families who are much more aware of the importance of giving an all-rounded education to children.

 

SINDA’S Programmes

16. But SINDA has been a very important part of it, particularly at targeting the segments where people need more help.

 

17. If you look at SINDA’s flagship : the SINDA Tutorials for Enhanced Performance (STEP). STEP provides enhanced teaching and learning models to help students in need improve their academic performance in core subjects – Maths and Science.

 

18. Now, there are 23 STEP Centres all over Singapore.

 

19. Take our longest-serving STEP partner. That is Chua Chu Kang Secondary School. It has been involved in the programme for an incredible 26 years, and has helped many students in need.

 

20. We owe tremendous thanks to all the teachers and principals of STEP Centres over the years. They stepped forward and allowed their school premises to be used by SINDA and that has benefitted thousands of children.

 

21. Another of SINDA’s key initiative is the distribution of Festive Gift Packs. During festive times, most of us are able to enjoy it. But you bring real joy and cheer to families who can’t otherwise afford it, by giving them gift packs.

 

22. Many volunteer organisations have come together – LISHA, PWC Singapore. They give their time and their resources and prepare these Festive Gift Packs.

 

23. There are also other initiatives and programmes. Without going into a laundry list :
    • Project Guide
    • Teach Programme
    • Football Club, targeted at a different way of accessing young kids and getting them to be interested in education
    • Project Athena
    • Book Wizards
    • Door Knocking Exercises, you saw some of that
    • Project Give
    • Project Shine
      and much more.

 

24. Many of these started as projects by others individually and then we come in, little streams joining into a bigger river, with SINDA’s resources.

 

Contributions to SINDA

25. Many of these programmes would not be possible without all of you here – your time, effort and resources.

 

26. Take, the donations received. Last year, SINDA received just under $2M – $1.7M in donations. That went towards supporting many of these programmes.

 

27. Our volunteers not only do all of this, but they also help tremendously in extending the reach to build the community around these events.

 

28. Look at our Grassroots Partners – like Narpani Pearavai – and the 75 schools that will be recognised today. The schools are the backbone of the programme.

 

29. Many of them work tirelessly.

 

30. If I can give one example, Ms Jayamany Overithi. She has been a volunteer for over 20 years. She has volunteered in our literacy and family support programmes. Back in 2016, 9 years ago, she was given the SG Silent Hero Award for her tireless service.

 

Conclusion

31. Today, we will be recognising the efforts of 328 individuals and organisations.

 

32. We thank each one of them. SINDA and the Indian community would not be here without their help. We look forward to your continued support.

 

33. Thank you.