SINDA has increased its per capita income (PCI) requirement from $1,000 to $1,600 to increase its benefits to a larger proportion of Indian households. The PCI is calculated by dividing the total monthly nett household income by the number of household members.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Finance, Ms Indranee Rajah, announced this at the SINDA Appreciation Team held on 21 January 2024. Ms Indranee is also the president of SINDA.
More in the middle-income group will have access to essential support and will be able to enjoy full fee waivers when they enrol into SINDA programmes.”
– Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Finance, and President of SINDA, Ms Indranee Rajah
11,000 more Indian families to benefit
This increase is expected to extend assistance to another 11,000 Indian families in Singapore. About 60% of SINDA’s programmes including financial assistance schemes utilise the PCI criteria.
SINDA’s range of financial assistance schemes include SINDA bursaries, the Equal Opportunity Fund, Back to School Vouchers and STEP tuition. Families who meet the new PCI criteria can enrol their children in SINDA’s STEP tuition without having to pay a $10 commitment fee. They will also be eligible for SINDA’s family programmes and to receive further assistance through initiatives such as the Celebrate! Festive Gift Vouchers.
Ms Indranee said that with the PCI increase, more needy families “will be able to benefit from SINDA’s financial aid and support schemes and they can also benefit from the complete range of programmes for free. More in the middle-income group will have access to essential support and will be able to enjoy full fee waivers when they enrol into SINDA programmes.”
“A strong source of support”
The family of Chitra Paramasivan, 36, a mother of three children, has been a beneficiary of SINDA’s programmes for the last five years. Her youngest has received the Hello Baby Gift Bundle, while her two older daughters have been part of SINDA’s STEP programme:
Ms Chitra said: “(STEP) has been a strong source of support for my children’s education. We are also now able to participate in family bonding activities and receive additional support through SINDA’s bursaries and other financial assistance schemes.”
SINDA last revised its PCI criteria in 2018 from $650 to $1,000.
Rising inflation
SINDA CEO, Mr Anbarasu Rajendran said: “In 2022, 20% of the resident population earned a per capita income of $1,623 and below, indicating a shift in household income distribution. Through ground engagements, we heard from Indian households about their concerns on rising inflation and living costs.”
He added: “The revision of our PCI criteria allows us to increase our reach by supporting and uplifting every single member of the Singaporean Indian community so that no one falls through the gaps.”
“In 2022, 20% of the resident population earned a per capita income of $1,623 and below, indicating a shift in household income distribution.”
– SINDA CEO, Mr Anbarasu Rajendran
Beyond the PCI increase, an additional $5 million is also being allocated in 2024 to support Indian households through social programmes. SINDA programmes are available to Singapore citizens and permanent residents of Indian descent.
The SINDA Appreciation Tea is held every year to recognise the contributions and support from over 400 individuals, partners, volunteers, and donors who have contributed to SINDA’s outreach and initiatives.
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