My City, My Home

Singapore has one of the world’s fastest ageing populations. Hence, proper measures have to be taken to take care of the elderly as they have spent a lifetime working hard to build Singapore up.

The Singapore government has come up with policies to provide assistance to the elderly. One instance is the decision to increase its 5% Goods and Services tax (GST) to 7%. This is an added blow to Singaporeans, especially the elderly, low-income or retirees group. To mitigate the impact, the government has offered GST credits of up to S$1,000 to all Singaporeans over 21 years old who meet their terms and conditions.

In addition, Singapore citizens over 55years old are given discounts for public transport and entertainment places such as movie theatres and Sentosa. Public transport is an adjunct to accessibility. HDB is working together with the Land Transport Authority to create an integrated barrier-free environment in which the barrier-free routes at the neighbourhood and precinct levels are linked up to transportation facilities such as the Light Rail Transport and the Mass Rapid Transport systems.

Most elderly live in public housing apartments. Thus, the government ensures that the Housing Development Board (HDB) flats are barrier-free to the elderly. HDB blocks now have a network of barrier-free and vehicular-free walkways for safe and easy access to the commercial and recreational facilities within the neighbourhood. The HDB blocks also have paved surface car parking lots specifically for the disabled and ramps leading to the block. Moreover, the walk ways are well-equipped with handrails. In the past, the block designs had allowed for lift to stop only at intermediate floors. Now, the design has been improved, providing lift stops at every floor for the new public housing blocks, lower lift call buttons and doors wide enough for wheelchairs. These provide much convenience to the elderly.


We can all contribute to create an environmentally friendly Singapore by playing our own part of keeping the environment clean and green. We should also often practice the “3 Rs”, that is reduce, reuse and recycle. One example that Singapore has practice the “3Rs” is the “Bring Your Own Bag” (BYOB) Day. Supermarkets such as Cold Storage and FairPrice has practice the following - bring your own bag or donate 10cents when you shop for groceries on BYOB Day. However, this strategy was not widely accepted and effective as people simply avoided grocery shopping on that day. Hence, I feel that the government should further reinforce on the importance of being environmentally friendly.

If we don't protect our home, who will?


Done By: Kwek Wan Ling
Admin Number: 103503L


Credits to:
Edena Tay
http://www.bca.gov.sg/BarrierFree/others/HDB.pdf
http://www.littlespeck.com/content/people/CTrendsPeople-070304.htm