K Shanmugam replaces Tharman Shanmugaratnam as SINDA Chairman

Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law, Mr K Shanmugam with performers of Project Give 2022
Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law, Mr K Shanmugam with performers of Project Give 2022

Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law, has been appointed Chairman of the SINDA Board of Trustees. He succeeds Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who relinquished his position as Chairman, following his inauguration as Singapore President.

 

Mr Tharman who has been closely involved with SINDA since its founding in 1991, was appointed Chairman in 2008. He was a member of the Action Committee on Indian Education (ACIE) report in 1990, which led to the founding of SINDA in 1991. He has also been a Life Trustee of SINDA since 2005.

 

Mr Tharman also oversaw the SINDA Strategic Review in 2011, which placed greater focus on education, youth, family services and on expanding support to households in need. According to SINDA, one of the results of the recommendations from this review was “improved academic performance of Indian students in the last decade.”

 

Mr Tharman was a member of the Action Committee on Indian Education (ACIE) report in 1990, which led to the founding of SINDA in 1991.”

 

 

Mr Shanmugam served as SINDA Advisor from 1991 till 2002, and was President of the Executive Committee (EXCO) from 2002 to 2009. He has been a Life Trustee since 2010.

 

Helping those in need

 

In a statement released by SINDA, it said: “Mr Shanmugam helmed SINDA’s EXCO during challenging times, such as the economic slowdown and the SARS outbreak in 2003, during which he oversaw SINDA’s work in supporting those in need and introduced initiatives such as career placements and training which benefitted over 2,000 Singaporean Indians at that time. He also led SINDA’s efforts in providing holistic support to students, launching programmes such as the Back To School Festival (BTSF) in 2008, to provide financial support to disadvantaged students and their families.”

 

Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Finance and National Development and President, SINDA said, “Mr Tharman led SINDA with both verve and heart. Under his chairmanship, SINDA transformed as an organisation and expanded its reach and programmes to serve the community better. On behalf of SINDA and the Indian community I wish to thank Mr Tharman for his vision, his leadership and his manifold contributions.”

 

She added, “Minister K Shanmugam is strongly connected with the Singaporean Indian community, has in-depth knowledge of SINDA and its work and is well-positioned to take SINDA to the next level.”

 

Mr Shanmugam helmed SINDA’s EXCO during challenging times, such as the economic slowdown and the SARS outbreak in 2003, during which he oversaw SINDA’s work in supporting those in need and introduced initiatives such as career placements and training…”

Mr Tharman also relinquishes his post as SINDA’s Life Trustee. The other Life Trustees are:

  • Mr K Shanmugam
  • Prof S Jayakumar
  • Mr S Dhanabalan
  • Mr S Chandra Das
  • Mr J Y Pillay
  • Mr Sat Pal Khattar
  • Dr N Varaprasad
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