Meet Mr Thirunavukkarasu Srinivasan, Healthcare Assistant and Caring Commuter Award 2021 Winner

On the morning of 10 August 2021, Mr Thirunavukkarasu Srinivasan (Mr Thiru) was on his way home when he assisted an elderly man whose wheelchair got stuck in the gap between the train and the platform. 

Mr Thiru had finished his night shift and was travelling home. When the train stopped at Lavender MRT station, he noticed a woman assisting an elderly man on an electric wheelchair to disembark the train. Realising that the wheelchair got stuck in the gap and that the woman had difficulties assisting the elderly man, Mr Thiru got out of his seat immediately to provide assistance.

Initially, Mr Thiru had difficulties trying to push the wheelchair from inside the train carriage as it was too heavy. He then exited the train and tried to pull the wheelchair while on the platform. Just as the train door was about to close, Mr Thiru managed to free the wheelchair from the gap. Mr Thiru then guided the elderly man to the lift, before proceeding to inform station staff of the incident and to seek assistance to retrieve his belongings which were left in the train when he rushed to help the elderly commuter. Shortly after, Mr Thiru was able to retrieve all his belongings, thanks to another caring commuter (identity unknown) who had returned them to station staff.

Mr Thiru receiving the Caring Commuter Award 2021 from Minister of Transport S Iswaran at National Kindness Award - Transport Gold 2021 held on 1 Dec 2021. Photo: Singapore Kindness Movement

The Caring Commuter Award recognises commuters who have demonstrated acts of care to others in need during their daily commute on public transport.

Jointly launched by the Public Transport Council and Singapore Kindness Movement in 2019, the award is presented as part of the Caring SG Commuters movement.