Singapore, 18 September 2016 – Long serving employees of the Sree Narayana Mission (SNM) are honoured today at SNM’s Employee Awards Ceremony. Guest-of-Honour Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Social and Family Development and MP for Nee Soon GRC hand out the Long Service, Special and Chathayam Awards to over 40 outstanding staff at SNM. The ceremony is held as part of SNM’s two-day Chathayam celebrations to honour the birth of their founder Sree Narayana Guru
Dr Faishal said, ‘We are delighted to honour the award recipients at the SNM Employee Awards Ceremony today. As we recognise and celebrate their contributions, we hope their outstanding efforts to help the community will serve as an example for the wider community to emulate.’
Mr. Udawala Silva, a recipient of this long service award said: ‘I am very proud to receive this award for my service, as it shows the community‘s SNM’s recognition of our work for the elderly.’ Another award recipient, Ms. Mala Paramasivan, said: ‘Social work is my passion in life. Although I am happy to be formally recognised, my true reward is having a chance to serve the residents and needy every day.’
At the Chathayam celebration, SNM launched a pilot programme with My Ear Singapore Pte Ltd, a home grown company providing hearing diagnostic tests and hearing aids, My Ear is conducting free audiometry tests for the residents of the Mission’s nursing home. The Mission will tap SG Enable’s Assistive Technology Fund (ATF) to provide residents with subsidised hearing aids. SNM hopes to expand the reach of this initiative through collaboration with regional hospitals to benefit residents living in the neighbouring HDB estates in Nee Soon and Sembawang GRCs.
Mr V Shanavas, President, Sree Narayana Mission (Singapore), said: ‘SNM strives to grow from strength to strength. We have also successfully reached out to corporates. The initiative with My Ear is one of our latest efforts to contribute meaningful services to the community as it will help many elderly overcome their hearing difficulties and enable them to enjoy a better quality of life. Going forward, we will continue to work towards delivering more positive services to the needy among our community.’
About Sree Narayana Mission’s Chathayam Celebrations: Sree Narayana Mission was founded on the 18 June 1948 by a group of civic-minded and socially conscious Malayalees. As the 109th registered Charity in Singapore, the Mission was set up in accordance with the philosophy of Sree Narayana Guru (1855 ~1928). The celebration of the birth anniversary of Sree Narayana Guru is an important yearly function at the Mission. Sree Narayana Guru was born under the star ‘Chathayam’ and his yearly birth anniversary is commemorated through the ‘Chathayam celebrations’.
Images from Chathayam Celebrations
