Letter to PTC Chairman

we sent the following report to the Chairman of Public Transport Council today:

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Mr Gerard Ee
Chairman
Public Transport Council

Dear Mr Ee

I refer to this report here (https://www.facebook.com/notes/lim-kun-yun-edison/reflection-on-meeting-with-ptc-chairman-mr-gerard-on-the-issue-of-polytechnic-tr/10150496848434074) which states that you have met with member of Young PAP campaigning for parity in public transportation for polytechnic students.

The article states that 2012 will be the year in which the formula for fare adjustment for public transportation will be re-looked and so next year would be a good year to 'push for fare revisions for polytechnic students'.

We are gladdened that you have chosen to meet with the young Party members to personally hear their grouses about the unfair public transport fare. In September 2009, we requested to meet the then-Transport Minister Raymond Lim to deliver a petition signed by 377 people who are mostly from the disabled community (but also includes some caregivers and a few sympathisers to our cause). A staff from the Ministry responded to us that "public transport fare concessions are granted by the public transport operators based on their commercial and social considerations. They will decide which group of commuters to give concessionary travel to. Therefore, we would suggest you contact the public transport operators directly to present your petition. The two operators can then work together to look at your petition accordingly."

We have written in to the Public Transport Council the past and you had responded that there are schemes like the National Council of Social Services administered ‘LTA Cares Fund’, Handicap Welfare Association’s ‘Dial-a-Cab’ scheme, LTA administered ‘Scheme for waiver of ARF’ and other assorted constituency-based financial help schemes to defray the transportation costs of people with disabilities.

While we appreciate these help schemes, they do not go the distance in helping us, the more vulnerable in society, live more useful, active and engaged lives.

Although the people with disabilities are not precluded from the existing concession granted to children, students and senior citizens, many of us do not fall within these groups of people who are granted such concessions. Most people with disabilities who are employed earn a meager amount and usually spend more than a third of our income on transportation. The burden of transportation for those that are unemployable is even more a cause for concern.

The article states that after meeting with them you mentioned, "I would rather focus on getting the Poly Fare lower than any other things next year (2012)". This underscores the reason why we wanted to meet with the Transport Minister in 2009. We felt that nothing can convince someone of a cause better than a face-to-face meeting.

In view of the fact that the formula for fare adjustment for public transportation will be re-looked next year, my friends and I write this email to request a meeting with your good-self so that you may hear and understand why we are asking for parity in public transportation; that the same level of transport subsidy that is given to our senior citizens be extended to us as well. This is the norm all over the world.

We hope to convince you (if we get to meet you in person) why parity in public transportation for people with disabilities is important; so that we may live our lives with dignity.
Thank you.

Yours sincerely

Reena Rajesvari
CAN! Coordinator