They have
become part of our social landscape. They are seen pushing their trolleys full
of old cardboards with their backs bent and attracting sympathy from onlookers.
These rugged old folks have recently become the focus of a group of young
people who are interested to know more about them.
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| Photo Credit: Tan Chuan-Jin |
For years
now, these old folks have been plying their trade, collecting cardboxes and
selling them, and Why do they have to do it? Some observers speculate that these
folks collect cardboxes just for the money. Others think they do it out of
boredom. Well, they are all correct.
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| Photo Credit: Gilbert Goh |
I have met many of them and spoken to them. There is a small number who do it out of boredom. These folks are already receiving some financial aid from the CDC or Comcare but would rather spend their time collecting cardboard. The majority, however, do it to make some money.
But there are
many more old folks that I have come across who sit alone in the void decks and
open spaces, often doing nothing at all. They are the lonely old folks who seem
to have nothing to look forward to and wither their time away in loneliness.
Whenever I stop to speak with them, they have so much to share with me and are
happy to know that someone cares enough to listen to what they have to say.
We will all
grow old one day. Then, will we also be pining for someone to talk to us like
these lonely old folks?
Besides the folks who collect cardboards in the day, there are also folks who do so at night. Before CNY 2013, I was out a couple of nights to survey the areas in Bedok, Eunos, Rochor and Chinatown for people who sleep in void decks and pubic places. I met an old lady In Eunos who was collecting cardboards. She said she had problems sleeping and decided to do this. She declined my offer of assistance as she was doing this because she did not know what else to do. She was the only one who gave me this reason and I guess there may be others like her.
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