I applaud this initiative to help the disabled. However, I am concerned about whether disabled people will feel as if this is an act of pity, and subsequently feel indignant or insulted. Rather than concessions, I feel that if the funds could go towards constructing more wheelchair ramps, lifts, and so forth, this might further Singapore’s aim of becoming an inclusive society.

To do our bit for the disabled is not to give handouts, but rather to make them feel that they are every bit as worthy and accepted a citizen as the rest of the able bodied populace are.

But perhaphs I am wrong, and the disabled do not think in such a manner?

wondering@1: subsidies are not ‘handouts’. It is a means of equal distribution of burden within society.

Just a casual reminder that Disabled people need not be Poor.

I fully support this petition for the handicapped. Handicapped persons are the less able people in our society, so its only right for government and public corporation such as public transport company to come forward willingly to help them in every possible way instead of giving such lame excuse such as difficult administration reasons. Giving back to society should be part of the public corporate culture just as it is important to make huge profit for its shareholders.This big public corporation should lead by example so that a caring society can eventually evolve.

i support conceesion for handicap.

but will the transport company do these.

i think they need to invest more to make transport handicap friendly.

so for them they cannot charge cheaper for handicap.

even poly student they do not want to provide concession.

but hope they will still give concession eventually to handicap and poly student.

maybe they will one day.

but the fare for adult might need to increase to cover back as well.

they are running a private business.

no like government public services.

even minister get very high pay.

hope when another party take over singapore governement, their minister and mp can do more of a social cum volunteer cum public services work.

dnt draw to high pay. help the people even more.

maybe a dream.

I was wheelchair bound for half a year and on crutches for a couple of years following that after sustaining a back injury from a work related accident, and yes, Commuting is very very costly.

Several reasons,
1) work hours doesn’t change still need to report at 8.30am
2) the bus upong reaching the bus stop near my place (which is at mid journey of the bus route) is packed to the entrance from 7.30am
3) Even when there is room, standing for 20+ km is a painful experience, out of 8 attempts, not once did I get an offer for a seat. (a young man on crutches doesn’t count)
4) penalty for coming in late is too costly.

In anycase, the petition intitiative is noble, but why Speakers corner just to sign the petition? It would be very very costly (35% taxi surcharge + city area surcharge) and challenging for the physically challenged to get to that location just so that they can pen their signatures.

:(

#3) Disabled does not mean poor

and an equally casual reminder that students/NS men are not necessarily Poor as well :)

but i doubt the transport companies will be generous enough.. :( despite low fuel prices. :( :( :(

Dreamer@7: The petition signing is already ongoing in the various challenged people’s communities. The Speakers’ Corner event is mainly for awareness raising purpose. We are planning on getting volunteers for those who need transportation for the event. Thank you for empathising with the challenged people. You have some very insightful thoughts. If you want to share your experience at the Speakers’ Corner, please do drop us an email at challengedsalliancenetwork@gmail.com. Thank you.

Thank you TOC for supporting this event.

Hey TOC, maybe it help to put the link to the website somewhere in the article above – http://challengedsalliancenetwork.blogspot.com/

K, thanks for your feedback. I will do so asap.

To wondering @2:

If receiving from public funds is a shameful thing (even for the disabled), then what do you call the top talented, able bodied Ministers receiving the millions in bonus or in pay also from public funds?

So handouts by any other name (bonus, pay, pension) is now not handouts, just like tax by any other name is not tax.

Above is referring to:

If receiving from public funds is a shameful thing (even for the disabled), then what do you call the Ministers getting the millions in bonus or pay, also from public funds?”

say ‘yes’ to remove all handicap carpark from s’pore

stop linking discussions to high salaries of MPs, if you are so able, go be one and see if their kind of work deserves the kind of salary they are commanding. This is about subsidies for PWDs, pls. There are several implications involved and it’s not so simple to just allocate money there. it’s good to advocate, it’s good to speak up. But focus on the issue.

And those who are reading, qn the “facts” presented to you and not buy it wholesale just cos you believe so. Pls present proof that the govt rejected “due to admin reasons”. When and where. Thanks.

and i want to say that I do support the PWDs. it is my job to do so. it’s just v frustrating when ppl leverage on topics on subsidies to attack the MP’s salaries.

BTW, “receiving public funds” and being employed on an official basis are 2 separate things. “Handouts” mean you get it without having to do anything. Do you think that is dignity?

—If receiving from public funds is a shameful thing (even for the disabled), then what do you call the Ministers getting the millions in bonus or pay, also from public funds?—

That is supposedly the $ to pay to have extremely intelligent, successful ministers to mock us citizens as “lesser mortals”.

—If receiving from public funds is a shameful thing (even for the disabled), then what do you call the Ministers getting the millions in bonus or pay, also from public funds?—

That is supposedly the $ to pay to have extremely intelligent, successful ministers to mock us citizens as “lesser mortals”.

Our handicapped folks should have concession too! Best even cheaper than that of kids. I don’t mind paying more in taxes for this kind of essentiales, than paying more in taxes so that ministers can have extra money to splurge on culinary classes overseas and boast about it afterwards.

well well@17: This link will answer your queries: http://challengedsalliancenetwork.blogspot.com/2009/05/reply-from-smrt-in-2000.html

Thanks Ravi. You may want to take away the address in the PDF before posting online for all to see?

To my surprise the phrase “admin reasons” was not used at all in SMRT’s reply to Ms Ravi.

What SMRT has explained is that current concessions are subsidised through commuters who are not receiving subsidies. This means that those who are not using concessions are the ones subsidising those on concessions through the fare that they are paying.

If they were to increase the group eligible for subsidies, this means more ppl pay less and LESSER ppl wld have to pay MORE. The cost would have to be transferred to the commuters who are not using concessions (it’s got nthg to do with taxes, unless it’s subsidies through govt-funded social welfare progs).

With the tensions on fare hikes nowadays, how would you approach the issue?

Just another pt to clarify, could someone elaborate on “There is an unwritten rule since colonial days that the visually impaired get to travel for free on the public transports when they show a card specifying that they are so,”

What is this card? Colonial days? Many things have changed since then, is it still relevant? Where did you know/ hear it from?

perhaps it would be more effective to present your cause through real and justified statistics, with elaboration on the real needs of the PWDs who need subsidies, and then the petition.

But you are right. Transportation shld be affordable. It is true that many PWDs, who have difficulty finding jobs and holding salaries tt are sustainable, find that transport costs is taking a toll on them.

I dunno what ministers do with their money, nor what you do with your money. Taxes are taxed based on how much you earn. The ministers pay taxes too. If their own luxious lifestyle as a person is wrong just cos they are ministers, then average ppl also be penalised for buying LV and not giving up seats to the elderly on the trains just cos our feet are feeling tired from shopping.

It’s not a right for disabled people to get subsidised transportation, afterall, they are just citizens similar to us.

However, we should still try to help them, even by giving them subsidised transportation if necessary, on the basis of love and charity.

Joshua Wong, I think you are mistaken. We did not claim that subsidised transportation is a right. But that affordable public transportation should be a right. There is a difference. We appreciate the love and charity. But don’t make us the object of pity. We want to be as self-reliant as possible. Give us our dignity!

Dear CAN!,

Thanks for the feedback. Yes affordable public transportation should be available to everyone, and there is a difference.

And sorry if I came across as meaning that the handicapped ought to be pitied. As I said, they “are citizens similar to us”. But that doesn’t mean that we don’t love each human being and endeavour as much as possible to show them love and charity.

Josh

I think it is wonderful for TOC to provide an alternative voice for those sidelined by our controlled mainstream media.

And I feel that this in particular is a very worthy cause. For those on the fences, I’d say that providing such assistance is one of the main reasons why we have governments in the first place. Even if the essential services are privatised in the name of improving efficiency, they are nonetheless essential and should be subsidized or free for disadvantaged individuals not able to shoulder the full cost of such services.

On MRTC’s reply in the link above: that’s just typical cold-hearted bureaucratese: sorry, we play by the rules here and according to the rules, let’s see.. nope, you don’t get it, so live with it! MRTC is a profit seeking organization. It has forgotten its primary raison d’etre which is to serve the public. BTW, full-fares are not the only source of revenue: how much rent do you figure they are earning from converting every station into malls?

To all Respected Singaporeans,

Let us touch our Heart and asked ourselves.
Is there Humanity in us?
Do we feel Bless with what we have?

I am sure Respected Singaporeans do have Humanity and feel Blessed with what we have today.

But let us remember that there are others out there there may not be so fortunate as us.Some may encounter problems temporarily but there are also those that have permanent problem and issues to be raise and solved.

Some may say ‘I only care about whether my MPs give me help and assistance.’
Other than that,some will just choose to close and an eye or maybe even both eyes. :)

This issue needs to be addressed and look into seriously as
1)Handicapped people already have dificullties finding job with salary like others.
2)Social Responsibility.
3)No groups or individuals should be left out from our Society.

If there are ways and means to make these people free from certain problems, then all the more we should do it.I feel we should engaged with relevant authorities and discussed the issue in hand.

It needs the cooperation from all in the Society.The petition is the first step.

WE THE PEOPLE EMPOWER OURSELVES

task 1: define handicap (study what specific issues they have with our public transport)
task 2: conduct studies how public transport can accommodate this diverse group. recommend solutions.
task 3: think of solutions other than money.

if public transport is not a “pleasant” option for able bodied folks during peak hours, will concessions really help?

dangers:
1) blind folks taking trains in stations without full height barriers
2) the peak hour crush (a challenge even for able bodied folks)
3) drivers of buses with unsafe driving habits (jam braking,?)

the bottomline is that our public transport bus &train operators have to make the ride comfortable for this group to foster an inclusive society. i personally rarely see any disabled person sharing a ride. why?

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