The ‘Xmas Lights Festive Bus tour’ is an initiative organized by the NGO ‘ItsRainingRaincoats’ (IRR) in collaboration with the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), for migrant workers to view the Christmas Festive lights in and around Orchard Road. The initiative is supported by the High Commission of India and Pan IIM Alumni (PIIMA), Singapore as part of their newly launched program ‘IIMPulse’ which aims to enable IIM alumni in Singapore to engage with the community in different ways. The program will give migrant workers a welcome break after having been confined to their dorms for many months.
The High Commissioner of India to Singapore, H.E, P Kumaran, said “Migrant workers are the lifeblood of many economies. They toil in places far away from their homes to earn a living, in the hope that it will enable a better future for their families. The High Commission of India attaches high priority to their well-being and welfare. We are happy to note that the Government of Singapore has taken a number of important steps to care of their health and livelihood in these trying times. As Singapore enters phase-3 today, this initiative to get the workers out of the dorms to see the festive lights of Singapore in all their glory, something that has been difficult for them for a while now, offers a timely ray of hope. My sincere thanks to MoM, It’s Raining Raincoats and the Pan IIM Alumni, Singapore for making this possible. The High Commission will be happy to support more such initiatives in the future for the welfare of migrant workers”.
President Pan IIM Alumni, Singapore Suresh V Shankar, said “Singapore and Singaporeans have provided opportunity and hospitality to so many kinds of migrants – from business professionals like IIM Alumni to migrant workers building the infrastructure. We are grateful to have a chance to contribute in small ways to Singapore and local communities.”
Dipa Swaminathan founder ItsRainingRaincoats said “We always welcome new stakeholders to help us support the nearly one million migrant workers in Singapore. We are delighted to have the High Commissioner of India to Singapore and the Pan IIM Alumni come forward to sponsor this year-end treat for the migrant workers which, based on the effusive thank you messages we are receiving from them, they have greatly enjoyed.”
IRR plans to organize around 20 bus rides and around 650 migrant workers will have the opportunity to go on the bus to view the festive lights as well as be treated to snacks and a goodie bag each on 27th and 28th December
ItsRainingRaincoats supports the needs of migrant workers in Singapore. They aim to improve the lives of the migrant workers and build bridges to strengthen their integration into our broader community. IRR uses imaginative, innovative, authentic and nimble strategies and the raincoat symbolizes the protection provided to them from their metaphorical thunderstorms.
