KRISHNASAMY, Vethiveloo @ K V Veloo
The Public Service,
Accession Number 003238
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 8
Total Reels
- Santanu Gupta
Interviewer
- 07:13:14
Total Running Time
- English
Language
Copyright Notice
All rights to the recordings and transcripts on this website, including the rights to copy, publish, broadcast and perform, are reserved. Written permission is required for any use. If you have any queries, please contact nas@nlb.gov.sg
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Reel/Disc 2 of 8
Metadata
- 22 Nov 2007
Recording Date
- 00:50:19
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:53) Studied social work at the University of Singapore.
(0:01:50) Origins of his interest in social work from the “Katong Boys’ Club”.
(0:05:28) Food, ethnic composition and leisure activities in Katong, a Eurasian enclave.
(0:07:41) Sports, literary activities and ballroom dancing at Katong Boys’ Club.
(0:11:56) Worked as a teacher in a private school for a short time.
(0:14:09) His first proper job was as a City Cleansing Inspector in the City Council in 1962. Impressions of his department.
(0:33:17) Moved to the Electricity Department but found it boring.
(0:35:47) First exposure to union work and his encounter with G Kandasamy of the Amalgamated Union of Public Employees (AUPE).
(0:39:40) Interaction with Malays.
(0:42:33) Worked as Secretary to the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Fun Fair Committee.
(0:43:34) Impressions of his first encounter with Devan Nair, S Woodhull, Jamit Singh and others. (0:45:15) Fun Fair was a resounding success.
(0:46:49) Bosses drew his attention to government scholarships to pursue social studies at the University of Singapore.
Why he felt that the period from 1954 to 1962 were his ‘lost years’. First interest in social work in 1946. Lessons learnt from the Katong Boys’ Club which stood him in good stead in later years. Impression of the Eurasian community in Katong and the leisure activities there. Worked as a teacher in a private school for a short time. First proper job was as an Estate Officer in the City Council in 1962. Impressions of his department. A lot of work went into sprucing up Singapore. Moved to Electricity Department but found it boring. First exposure to union work and his encounter with G Kandasamy of the Amalgamated Union of Public Employees (AUPE). Interaction with Malays. Worked as Secretary to the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Fun Fair Committee. Impressions of his first encounter with Devan Nair, SWoodhull, Jamit Singh and others. Fun Fair was a resounding success. Bosses drew his attention to Government Scholarships on social work studies and his reaction.
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Reel/Disc 6 of 8
Metadata
- 3 Jan 2008
Recording Date
- 00:58:12
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:37) His involvement in welfare homes.
(0:02:17) Recollection of tough assignments and how he was successful in tackling them with a group of very dedicated subordinates.
(0:15:02) His view of the living conditions of residents in welfare homes.
(0:15:52) Anecdote on temples in Waterloo Street.
(0:21:30) Appointment as Director of Social Welfare (DSW) at the Ministry of Community Development (MCD) from 1987. His primary functions.
(0:23:22) His involvement in recommending upgrading courses for social workers.
(0:27:33) Staff’s perception of him.
(0:29:03) Impression that the staff gave him full support with limited resources.
(0:30:25) Belief that he was not savvy at diplomacy, but he cared for his staff.
(0:32:40) His role in the review of a number of legal acts at MCD.
(0:35:11) Satisfaction in getting a provision in the Penal Code for young offenders subjected to a minimum prison sentence to be repealed.
(0:38:35) Review of other legal acts.
(0:51:17) His role in the National Council of Social Services (NCSS) after his retirement.
Impressions of his role as a trouble shooter. Recollection of tough assignments and how he was successful in tackling them with a group of very dedicated subordinates. Feeling on the conditions of residents in welfare homes. Anecdote on temples in Waterloo Street. Appointment as Director of Social Welfare (DSW) in the Ministry of Community Development (MCD) from 1987. His primary functions. His passion for upgrading knowledge of social workers. Staff’s perception of him. Impression that the staff gave him full support with limited resources. Belief that he was not savvy at diplomacy but he cared for his staff. His ‘never-say-die’ attitude & abhorrence for servile staff. Honesty, integrity and diligence were high on his priority list. Satisfaction in getting provision in Penal Code for young offenders subjected to a minimum prison sentence to be repealed. Role in getting a number of Acts reviewed and amended. Role in the National Council of Social Services (NCSS) after his retirement.
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