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HINDU ENDOWMENTS BOARD397, Serangoon RdSingapore 218123

www.heb.org.sg

HINDU ENDOWMENTS BOARD

ANNUAL

2016/2017REPORT

Chairman’s Foreword 3

Hindu Endowments Board Management 5

Background 7

Operating Units 9

Temples– Institutions Rooted in Tradition Yet Ever Evolving 11

Temple Management Committees 17

HEB-Ashram Halfway House – Enlivening & Enriching Lives 19

HEB – Ashram Management Committee 23

Kindergartens – Educating Young Minds for Twenty Seven Years 25

Kindergartens Committee of Management 29

Social Assistance Programmes – Inspiring and Caring for the Community 31

Sub-Committees under the Hindu Endowments Board 38

Publications 38

Highlights of 2016/2017 39

Thank you Volunteers! 43

CONTENTS

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Chairman’s Foreword2016 was an interesting year for Hindu Endowments Board (HEB). With the support of government agencies, sweeping changes were made to how the festival of Thaipusam was organised. We lowered participation fees and did away with collection of deposits. HEB is thankful that after a long absence, religious music was allowed and introduced at various points along the Thaipusam procession route. Hindu devotees, especially kavadi bearers, were truly appreciative of the difference music made to the festival – which turned out to be a vibrant, devotional experience. It is our responsibility as a community to enjoy this new Thaipusam experience whilst ensuring that it is safe and orderly. HEB has made several administrative changes to the way Thaipusam henceforth will be managed and we are positive that all the enhancements would encourage greater participation and heighten religious sentiments amongst Hindu devotees.

Riding on the successful reception that Thaipusam 2016 received with the introduction of several new initiatives, HEB further challenged itself to re-examine and improve programmes and services offered through its operating units. Our review did not stop with festivals; we took stock and consolidated our resources; to maximise what we could offer in terms of programmes and services, not just for Hindu devotees but to the community as a whole.

As HEB looks to the year ahead, it will focus on making an impact in areas key to moving the Hindu community into the future. Priority will be given to bringing temples closer to the people; to better serve their spiritual, social, educational and cultural needs.

At the Board, we are working to keep our temples financially self-sufficient – so that we can offer the Hindu community more than just religious services. HEB has been very prudent with its finances – keeping costs low and exploring careful investments. As a result of which, in 2016, HEB was able put its additional resources into offering disadvantaged households much needed educational bursaries, study grants, pre-school subsidies and even free monthly food rations. In the coming year, HEB will in addition to the above, be expanding its outreach to make free health screening and referrals to hospitals more accessible by organising more health fairs.

MR R JAYACHANDRANChairmanHINDU ENDOWMENTS BOARD

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We are presently in the fi nal stages of rolling out HEB’s online booking system for religious services and temple facilities. This would include automation of all temple transactions. Our temples will each have an interactive online portal listing its services as well as programmes with detailed explanations to various associated religious rites and rituals. Everyone would be able to access and book our temple services and facilities in the comfort of their home or offi ce and from anywhere in the world.

In today’s context it has become vital for HEB to work hand in hand with other privately managed Hindu temples and Hindu institutions to collectively uplift our community. HEB will continue to make available its resources and expertise (where possible) to others as part of our community outreach efforts.

For Hindu temples to remain relevant in a constantly evolving society like Singapore, it is important to promote moral and religious education, especially amongst the young. With education comes a better understanding of the Hindu faith of racial/ religious acceptance; of being able to live cohesively with people of other races and religions. To fulfi l this need, HEB has been expanding its Project Bhakti programme to offer it in as many locations as possible. We are making good progress and hope to see a twofold increase in student enrolment by end 2017.

I am happy to say that we concluded the last fi nancial year on a positive note. In 2014, when my colleagues and I took over the management of the Board, we rolled out an ambitious three-year plan. I would like to thank members of the Hindu Endowments and Advisory Boards, members of HEB’s sub-committees, volunteers, Management of non-Board temples, Hindu and grassroots organisations, MCCY and other government agencies for your steadfast support.

Thank you

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Hindu Endowments Board Management

R JAYACHANDRANChairman

Chairman, Aquarius Investment Advisors Pte Ltd

Ambassador to Mauritius

YOGANATHAN AMMAYAPPANSecretary

Director, Rehabilitation & Protection Group (MSF)

SELVAM S/O VARATHAPPANFinance Member

(from 1 June 2016)Senior Accountant, EM Services

M M PARAMANTHAMMemberAdvisor,Little India Shopkeepers & Heritage Association

S LAKSHMANANMemberDirector, Capital Development Pte Ltd

BALAKRISHNAMADHUBALAMemberGroup Director (Legal),Housing & Development Board

K VELLAYAPPANMemberPaediatrician,International Child & Adolescent Clinic

SHANKAR S/O NAGANAMBALAGARAN RMemberArchitect, CPG Consultants Pte Ltd

S SATISH APPOOMemberGroup Director (Joint Operations & Technology),National Environment Agency

N GANAPATHYMemberAssociate Professor,National University of Singapore

S NALLATHAMBYMemberHead of Business Unit,Knight Frank Property Asset Management Pte Ltd

MOTI H BHOJWANIMemberDirector, Shankar’s Emporium Pte Ltd

R DHINAKARANVice ChairmanManaging Director, Melwani Group of Companies

SHEKARAN S/O K. KRISHNANFinance Member(until 31 May 2016)Public Accountant,Ernst & Young LLP

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About Hindu Endowments BoardThe Hindu Endowments Board or HEB is a statutory body set up under the Hindu Endowments Act in 1968. The Minister for Culture, Community and Youth appoints prominent figures from the public and private sectors of the Indian community as Board members.

HEB’s primary function is to operate four Hindu endowments placed under its administration. These endowments include the Sri Mariamman Temple, Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple, Sri Sivan Temple andSri Vairavimada Kaliamman Temple.

In addition to managing temples, the Board is involved in numerous initiatives that benefit the community. In 1999, HEB opened its first MOE registered preschool that offered students a head start in the learning of Tamil as a second language. A second preschool followed in 2004. Both Saraswathy Kindergarten and Saraswathy Darma Muneeswaran Kindergarten offer a comprehensive early childhood curriculum. Programmes at both Kindergartens are available at no cost or subsidized rates to children in need.

In 2011, HEB started the HEB-Sivadas Education Fund - a financial assistance initiative that offers two different support schemes – one targeting pre-schoolers and the other meant for tertiary students including those attending polytechnics and ITEs. The scheme provides bursaries and grants to ensure that Hindu children are not deprived of a good education.

HEB’s broad based community service includes the administration of HEB-Ashram, a Halfway House of IPC status to rehabilitate substance abusers. HEB-Ashram offers its residents guidance and support and equips them with skills to allow them to be gainfully employed. ‘Gift from the Heart’, a programme that provides disadvantaged families with free monthly food rations, is also offered through HEB-Ashram.

HEB actively supports inter-faith activities and is a member of the Inter-Religious Organisation, Singapore. While HEB’s mission is to meet the spiritual and welfare needs of the Hindu community, its vision is to foster greater understanding and harmony amongst religions.

For more information, please visit www.heb.org.sg.

t Facade of HEB Building7

Sri Mariamman Temple u

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Operating UnitsHindu Endowments Board discharged its various functions through its operating units:

Sri Mariamman Temple(Endowment 1, National Monument)Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple (Endowment 1, National Monument)Sri Vairavimada Kaliamman Temple(Endowment 2)Sri Sivan Temple (Endowment 4)

TEMPLESSaraswathy Kindergarten (MOE Registered)Saraswathy Darma Muneeswaran Kindergarten (MOE Registered)

KINDERGARTENS

HEB-Ashram(Institutions of Public Character, ISO Certifi ed)

HALFWAY HOUSELittle India Arcade48, Serangoon Road209 South Bridge Road36 Mosque Street

COMMERCIALPROPERTIES

Sub-Committees Under The Hindu Endowments BoardHindu Endowments Board managed and discharged its various functions through the following sub-committees in alphabetical order:

Ü Audit CommitteeÜ Building & Maintenance / Project CommitteeÜ Executive CommitteeÜ HEB-Ashram Halfway House CommitteeÜ Hindu Studies CommitteeÜ Inter-Faith CommitteeÜ Investment CommitteeÜ Kindergartens Committee of ManagementÜ Medical Support ServicesÜ PGP Hall CommitteeÜ Religious Affairs CommitteeÜ Sivadas-HEB Education Fund CommitteeÜ Temple Affairs Committee

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Temples Institutions Rooted in Tradition Yet Ever Evolving

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Hindu temples are central to the religious life of the Hindu Community. The role of temples has expanded over the last few years – becoming vibrant centres of religious and social development.

HEB’s temples have moved to the forefront with progress seen in several key areas- competent temple leadership, greater community outreach, better infrastructure and tighter governance. As a result of which, the temples have been able to provide higher quality religious services and programmes for the enhancement of the Hindu community.

Renewing LeadershipThrough regular engagement sessions with both Temple Management Committees and staff, effectiveness in the execution of programmes has significantly improved at the

temples. Special emphasis is placed on cultivating Committee Members’ sense of ownership and cohesiveness amongst the Committees is encouraged during the monthly Temple Affairs Committee meetings.

Temple Management Committees were renewed for another two years on1 July 2016. 32 members were appointed by Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, Ms Grace Fu, at a ceremony held at Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple’s PGP Hall on 28 June 2016.

As part of Committee Members continuous development, they are encouraged to interact and actively engage with communities as well as grassroots organisations to harness ideas and resources. Taking the lead in this area was Sri Vairavimada Kaliamman Temple which played host to a series of visits by

leaders from other faiths and various grassroots organisations. Members of the Presidential Council for Religious Harmony (PCRH) visited the temple in April 2016 and the guests especially appreciated the South Indian thali meal which was prepared in the temple kitchen.

leaders from other faiths and various grassroots organisations. Members of the Presidential Council for Religious Harmony (PCRH) visited the temple in April 2016 and the guests especially appreciated the South Indian thali meal which was prepared in the temple kitchen.

q Minister Grace Fu with Temple Committee members

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In July 2016, the Management of Sri Vairavimada Kaliamman Temple hosted visitors from both Gek Poh CC and Sengkang South IRCC. The visits included guided tours of the temple premises. In November 2016, participants from the Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme at NTU spent half a day at the temple learning about Hinduism and temple operations.

Over at Sri Mariamman Temple, a delegation headed by the Secretary of Education from the US paid a visit and toured the temple facilities. The delegates were shown a video of various religious activities held at Sri Mariamman Temple, including that of the Fire Walking Festival. Sri Mariamman Temple also hosted a visit by delegates from Sub Saharan Ministerial Delegation in 2016.

In developing leadership, HEB places emphasis in cultivating the capabilities of volunteer temple leaders who hold key positions. Volunteers who show high potential are inducted as Members of Temple Management Committees. Those who show leadership qualities are appointed to key positions

within the Committees. HEB temples each held Volunteers Appreciation events in support of their volunteers. Sri Mariamman

p SRP Students at Sri Sivan Temple

p Sub Saharan Ministerial Delegation

p Sri Mariamman Temple Volunteers Appreciation Dinner

Temple hosted a Volunteers Appreciation Dinner at Foochow building for their temple volunteers on 5 November 2016.

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CC’s Chinese New Year Dinner celebrations.

Better InfrastructureThe community has been benefi tting from the regular upgrading of our temple facilities. Sri Sivan Temple, for example, upgraded the aircon systems in its function and meeting rooms and made several improvements in the temple kitchen, including replacementof the exhaust fans.

A comprehensive study of Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple’s facilities and their utilisation was carried out bewtween 2015 and 2016. Following which, a design proposal for the redevelopment of Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple according to Agama Shastra principles was rolled out in

Greater Community OutreachTemples managed by HEB played a critical role in reaching out to the community - disseminating information and offering a variety of social programmes. HEB’s social initiatives - Project Bhakti, Sivadas Education Fund Tertiary Bursaries and Grants, and Food from the Heart have seen signifi cant take up rates since being offered through the temples.Outreach at the Temples, took a variety of forms – from sharing of information with other communities to lunch for senior citizens.

Sengkang Inter-Faith Groups, led by a team from MCCY, visited Sri Mariamman Temple in

June 2016 to learn more about Hinduism and the signifi cance of cow worship in the religion. Management Committee members from Sri Mariamman Temple co-ordinated two other educational visits- this time, for school teachers through OnePeople.sg. The focus of the visits was to develop a better understanding of Hinduism.

For the 14th straight year, Sri Mariamman Temple hosted a Lunar New Year lunch for 120 seniors from various old age and welfare homes. Mr Melvin Yong, MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC, was present to hand out ‘hong baos’ and goodie bags to the invited guests on behalf of the Temple. Sri Mariamman Temple’s musicians were thereafter invited to perform at Kreta Ayer

q Lunar New Year lunch at Sri Mariamman Temple

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early 2016. The new phase of the temple’s redevelopment primarily focuses on improving facilities deemed inadequate and making available more space for housing devotees during various religious services. A symbolic brick laying ceremony and vastu prayer were held on 6 July 2016 to mark the start of the redevelopment phase. Special prayers, including Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Kodi Nama Parayanams, were held between July and September 2016 to aid with the smooth conduct of the temple’s Consecration Ceremony scheduled on 22 April 2018. At Sri Mariamman Temple, lighting and curtains at the wedding hall were replaced while carpentry and painting works were also carried out. Upgrades to the Temple’s silver chariot was planned and budgeted for and an estimated 5 kilogrammes of silver will be used for the project. Silversmiths are scheduled to arrive in May 2017 to carry out the refurbishment works.

Robust GovernanceSince the early eighties, good governance has been a priority. Internal and external audits on fi nancial management, risks and controls were completed in September and November 2016. Financial regulation training sessions were held for temple administrators in May 2016.Salary scale for temple staff was revised, and manuals for Financial Regulations and Human Resource were updated in consultation with Temple Management and staff to better refl ect recent employment practices.

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Temple Management

CHAIRMANS Nallathamby

VICE CHAIRMANRamachandra Hegde

SECRETARYP P Raj

FINANCE MEMBER C Nantha Kumar

MEMBERSKrishnasamy RajaramP S KathirasanK T VishnuKanayan Manogaran

CHAIRMANK Vellayappan

VICE CHAIRMANP S Somashekaran

SECRETARYP Rajaperian

FINANCE MEMBER T G Gritharan

MEMBERSP SegarKrishnasamy S SSuresh Kumar RA Jaiganth

SRI MARIAMMAN TEMPLE

SRI SRINIVASA PERUMAL TEMPLE

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CHAIRMANK Vellayappan

VICE CHAIRMANP S Somashekaran

SECRETARYP Rajaperian

FINANCE MEMBER T G Gritharan

MEMBERSP SegarKrishnasamy S SSuresh Kumar RA Jaiganth

CHAIRMANN Venkatesh

VICE CHAIRMANS Pannirselvam(until 22/3/2017)

SECRETARYT Anbalagan

FINANCE MEMBER S Malaiappan

MEMBERSK S RajendranR Rajashree Sasidharan NairSumit Aggarwal

CHAIRMANA Satish

VICE CHAIRMANN R Shankar

SECRETARYK Muthulingam

FINANCE MEMBER K V Praboo

MEMBERSN AnandarajahR RamanathanR UthayakumarM Kunaseakanan

SRI SIVAN TEMPLE SRI VAIRAVIMADA KALIAMMAN TEMPLE

Committees

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HEB - Ashram Halfway HouseEnlivening and Enriching Lives

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With seed funding from Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises (SCORE), HEB set up HEB-Ashram in 1999, a Halfway House to rehabilitate and reintegrate Indian-Hindu substance abusers into society.

Within HEB-Ashram’s supportive environment, its residents receive emotional and spiritual guidance through a number of quality programmes. Residents are encouraged to attend classes to learn more about the religion they practice as well as yoga and meditation sessions for better control of their minds and bodies. In addition to counselling for residents and their families, HEB-Ashram offers a well-rounded programme which includes sports and leisure, IT, literacy, art therapy, cooking activities and regular outings.

In addition to being taught fi nancial prudence, residents are equipped with skills which allow them to be gainfully employed. SCORE’s job placement unit ensures that residents secure appropriate jobs.

To date, more than 900 residents and their families have benefi tted from the services offered by HEB-Ashram Halfway House.

MilestonesOctober 2010 HEB-Ashram becomes one of eight halfway houses to adopt the Halfway House New Service Model (HSM) administered by Singapore Prisons Service (SPS) and Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises (SCORE).

November 2011Registered as an Institution of Public Character (IPC)

January 2013 Recognising the increasing demands for aftercare support for returning offenders, HEB-Ashram offers the Residential Aftercare Support Programme to all ex-offenders, regardless of their ethnic or religious orientation.

July 2014HEB-Ashram awarded full membership with the National Council of Social Service (NCSS)

November 2014Recognised as the fi rst Halfway House to achieve certifi cation for ISO9001:2008 Quality Service Management for a 3 year period

April 2016Accredited with bizSAFE Level 3 Certifi cation

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Highlights during the yearOn 5 July 2016, residents and their families enjoyed a fun filled day of barbeque and bonding, organised as part of HEB-Ashram’s family engagement programme. In addition to gaining insights into the various rehabilitative activities available at HEB-Ashram, the session gave residents and their families an opportunity to share meaningful time together.

Residents cycled from Punggol to Coney Island as part of an outing organised on 21 July 2016. The visit introduced residents to a tranquil part of Singapore many had not heard of.

Mr Amrin Amin, Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affiars visited HEB-Ashram in October 2016 as part of his familiarisation tour of halfway houses and he was pleased to learn about its achievements and contributions.

Festive celebrations were held in conjunction with Deepavali including one at SANA HQ on 5 November 2016. HEB-Ashram makes the added effort around festive seasons to engage their residents and their families to motivate them.

p Cycling at Punggol

p Deepavali Celebrations

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In March 2017, HEB-Ashram’s eco-garden was offi cially opened by Minister for Transport and MP for Sembawang GRC, Mr Khaw Boon Wan. About half the size of a football fi eld, the now lush plot is fi lled with variety of fruit trees and vegetables. Bee, poultry, and fi sh rearing, as well as composting are some activities that residents partake in other than gardening. HEB-Ashram’s residents spend much time at the eco-garden and have greatly benefi tted from the therapeutic benefi ts it offers.

q Schools visit the new eco-garden

u Minister Khaw Boon Wan planting a tree

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CHAIRMANN Ganapathy

VICE CHAIRMANKalyani Mehta

SECRETARYN Anandarajah

FINANCE MEMBER Chinniah Kunnasagaran

MEMBERSSazali Abdul WahidSharminee RamacandraV Maheantharan

HEB-ASHRAM

HEB - Ashram ManagementCommittee

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KindergartensEducating Young Minds for Twenty-Seven Years

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HEB started Saraswathy Kindergarten (SKG) as a community project in 1990 to address the lack of opportunity for the learning of Tamil language in prescools. A second kindergarten, Sarawathy Darma Muneeswaran Kindergarten (SDMKG), a collaborative effort with a private temple opened in 2005.

The significant evolvement of the pre-school landscape over the years has led to an increasing number of kindergartens and childcare centres offering Tamil. This trend has resulted in declining enrolment at both the HEB kindergartens. In April 2017, HEB took the decision to cease its kindergarten operations from December 2017. The closure of the kindergartens will take place in phases and from January 2017 the kindergartens have only been operating with the graduating K2 classes.

HEB remains committed to serving the community and will explore reallocating resources from the two kindergartens to other areas of need of the community.

Our CommitmentOver the last twenty-seven years, HEB has successfully played a part in the early education field in Singapore. Both our Kindergartens have consistently attained almost 100% literacy and language proficiency with each graduating cohort.

HEB invested $570,000 on the kindergartens in FY 2016/2017. HEB allocated funds in the form of education bursaries amounting to $16,305 and $13,950 in transport subsidies to support and motivate disadvantaged and good performing students at the kindergartens.

q KG students perfom for Chinese New Year celebration

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Highlights during the YearStudents from both SKG and SDMKG were invited to perform at various community events including National Day Dinner celebrations at Grassroots Club in August 2016 and Chinese New Year Celebrations at Adventist Elder Home.

SDMKG had the honour of being represented at the Mother Tongue Language Symposium in August 2016.

Students from both SKG and SDMKG participated in various competitions during Muthamizh Vizha which was held at Umar Pulavar Tamil Language Centre in April 2016.

p A performance for National Day

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q Performances at the 2016 KG Graduation Ceremony

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CHAIRMANA Yoganathan

FINANCE MEMBER N Vijayan

MEMBERSSusila GanesanVellappa s/o Dorasamy

SARASWATHY & SARASWATHY DARMA MUNEESWARAN KINDERGARTENS

Kindergartens Committee of Management

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Social AssistanceProgrammesInspiring and Caring for the Community

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Sivadas- HEB Education Fund takes its name from its benefactor, the late Mr Sivadas Sankaran. Before he passed away in 2009, Mr Sivadas bequeathed his significant portfolio of stocks and shares to the Hindu Endowments Board with the understanding that HEB uses all of the income from these equities to provide financial assistance to Hindu children for their education. The Trustees of the Sivadas Estate then established the Sivadas-HEB Education Fund.

The first assistance scheme the Fund implemented was the Pre-School Assistance Scheme in June 2011. The scheme helps partially cover fees for needy children attending childcare centres and kindergartens.

Sivadas Education FundIn 2012, the Fund introduced its second scheme, the Tertiary Assistance Scheme provided financial assistance to disadvantaged students in local universities, Institutes of Technical Education and Polytechnics. Students from publicly funded institutions receive one-off grants while students from privately funded education institutions studying for their diplomas or undergraduate degrees are given subsidies of up to 50% of their annual fees, capped at $6000.

In 2016, a total of 215 Singapore Citizens and PRs received $539,319 in assistance through the Fund. Two Bursary Award Ceremonies were held, one in July 2016 with Minister S Iswaran as Guest of Honour and the other in October 2016 with MP and MayorMs Denise Phua.

815 students have benefitted from the SivadasEducation Fund

To date, $1.6

million disbursed

under the Sivadas-

HEB Tertiary

Bursary Assistance

Programme

q Bursary Award Winners

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HEB provides food rations to Hindu families in need through its assistance programme ‘Gift from the Heart’. The programme was fi rst launched to assist families in fi nancial diffi culties to tide over the 2009 economic downturn.

Food rations are packed and distributed through HEB-Ashram, the Institution of Public Character (IPC) managed by HEB. Benefi ciaries are identifi ed through Family Service Centres, Hindu temples, HEB Kindergartens, schools and referrals. Applicants are required to undergo a fi nancial assessment process conducted by a HEB-Ashram social worker. Once the application is approved, food rations are provided for the next 6 months and renewable upon request.

Gift From The HeartHEB-Ashram regularly assesses the type of food rations provided and obtains feedback from recipients to determine if the rations provided meet their requirements. HEB-Ashram engages its volunteers to deliver the food rations to recipients’ homes.

About 200 families are benefi tting from this monthly food ration programme.

q Food rations ready for distribution

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q Prayer at the temple

u A Project Bhakti class in session

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Project Bhaktion various Hindu festivals, their origins, significance and how they are celebrated.

Road shows on Project Bhakti were held at Sri Mariamman Temple and Sri Ramar Temple in July and October 2016 to encourage more children to sign up for the programme.

(from Jan 2017). A class for teens is conducted at Sri Mariamman Temple.

HighlightsStudents enrolled in the programme were treated to a special performance at the Singapore Repertory Theatre on 17 April 2016.

In September 2016, the Annual PB Day and 15th Anniversary celebrations was held at PGP Hall attracting both enrolled students and their parents for a fun filled day.

As part of HEB’s initiatives to inculcate Hindu values, a series of talks were held at the Sri Mariamman and Sri Vairavimada Kaliamman Temples. Guest speakers were invited to speak

Project Bhakti classes are conducted by a group of youth volunteers under the aegis of the Hindu Endowments Board. Since its inception in 2001, Project Bhakti has catered to the religious needs of Hindu children in Singapore. The English-medium classes are taught to children between the ages of 5 to 16 years old. A total of 531 students were enrolled in the programme in 2016.

Classes are conducted at HEB managed and privately managed temples. Classes are conducted at Siva Krishna Temple, Sri Muneeswaran Temple, Sri Sivan Temple, Darma Muneeswaran Temple, Arulmigu Velmurgan Gnanamuneeswaran Temple (till Sept 2016), Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple

q Honouring mothers on Annual Project Bhakti Day

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The annual Health Fair is one of HEB’s key initiatives to increase awareness amongst our Hindu community on the importance of a healthy lifestyle. We believe that to progress, education is necessary to prevent and reduce some of the chronic diseases that are presently over represented within the community.

Our engagements go beyond talks and seminars. In essence, we help people take the first step to a healthier lifestyle. Participants at the Health Fair can opt for free blood cholesterol and glucose screening, height, weight and eye checks as well as BMI measurements, body fat analysis and blood pressure

Health Fairchecks. Those showing any abnormalities are immediately referred to hospitals for further tests and follow up review.

At the Health Fair, in addition to health screening and medical counselling there is a forum which focuses on causes, treatment and prevention of common life threatening diseases.

In July 2016, HEB partnered MediaCorp Oli 96.8 to jointly organise the Health Fair to which Professor S Jayakumar, former Deputy Prime Minister attended as Guest of Honour. A highlight of this year’s Fair was a section dedicated to paediatric care.

HEB’s Medical Support Services Committee and volunteers which run the Health Fair annually have taken their expertise to help other grassroots and religious institutions set up similar services.

q Eye checks at the 2016 Health Fair

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We believe that for a community to progress socially and economically there should be a clear and conscious plan to care for and assist the less fortunate, physically challenged, and disadvantaged. Therefore, at HEB, the work of caring for the less fortunate is an integral part of our mission.

HEB disbursed $172,500 in FY2016/2017 to support various cultural, educational, social, community and religious initiatives.

HEB helped play its part in the community by partnering with and contributing towards programmes run by the following organisations:

Ü Apsaras ArtsÜ Arulmigu Velmurugan Gnana Muneeswaran Building FundÜ Association of Tamil WritersÜ Gita JayantiÜ Holy Tree Sri Balasubramaniar Temple Building FundÜ Humanitarian Relief Effort for Aceh & Rakhine State, RLAFÜ Inter Religious Organisation, SingaporeÜ Little India Shopkeepers and Heritage AssociationÜ Moulmein-Cairnhill National Day CelebrationsÜ National University of SingaporeÜ National University of Singapore Hindu SocietyÜ National University of Singapore Tamil Language SocietyÜ NuLife Care & Counselling ServicesÜ PA Narpani PearavaiÜ Singai Tamil SangamÜ Singapore After-Care AssociationÜ Singapore Anti Narcotic AssociationÜ Singapore Indian AssociationÜ Singapore Indian Fine Arts SocietyÜ Singapore Kadayanallur Muslim LeagueÜ SirpigalÜ Sri Ruthra Kaliamman TempleÜ Tamil Language and Cultural Society Ü Tamils Representative Council

Our Contributions

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Hevilambhi Year Festivals BookletA compilation of religious festivals, auspicious timings / dates, ubayams and various services offered at HEB’s temples. Free copies available at the temples.

Project Bhakti Modular TextbooksProject Bhakti classes are conducted under the aegis of the HEB. The modular textbooks and audio CD guides are published bi-annually as course material for the classes. For more information about Project Bhakti, email pb@heb.org.sg.

PublicationsHindu Newsletter HEB’s key publication which covers happenings at the operating units, including key religious festivals, social events and useful information. For subscription to the newsletter, email admin@heb.org.sg.

Hindu Newsletter HEB’s key publication which covers happenings at the operating units, including key religious festivals, social events and useful information. For subscription to the newsletter, email admin@heb.org.sg.

Hindu Newsletter HEB’s key publication which covers happenings at the operating units, including key religious festivals, social events and useful information. For subscription to the newsletter, email admin@heb.org.sg.

Hevilambhi Year Festivals BookletA compilation of religious festivals, auspicious timings / dates, Hevilambhi Year Festivals Booklet

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Highlights of 2016/2017

Mr Melvin Yong, MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC and Mr Murali Pillay, MP for Bukit Batok and Mr Pillay’s family join more than 10,000 devotees for blessed meals on one of the Purattasi Saturdays at Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple.

The illustrious life and work of Mr S R Nathan, Former President of Singapore and one time Chairman of HEB, was remembered during a moving tribute held on 8 September 2016. The tribute was jointly hosted by HEB, SINDA, Narpani Pearavai and various Indian organisations.

Students from various centres performing during Annual Project Bhakti Day and 15th Anniversary Celebrations at PGP Hall on 11 September 2016.

16,137 devotees participated in various rituals during the festival of Theemithi (Fire walking)

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Staff from Sarawathy Kindergarten and Saraswathy Darma Muneeswaran Kindergarten were honoured at a special celebration held at Tandoor Restaurant on4 November 2016.

Makara Villaku celebrations at Sri Vairavimada Kaliamman Temple in January 2017

Mrs Santha Bhaskar, and Mr N Prushuathamun, recipients of the 2016 National Day Award, and former Ambassador Mr K Kesavapany, recipient of India’s Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award were celebrated for their contributions to the community at a special ceremony on 17 March 2017 at Holiday Inn Orchard City Centre.

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Students from the 2016 graduating classes of HEB’s Kindergartens

Devotees at Sri Sivan Temple during Maha Sivarathri celebrations on 24 February 2017

Thaipusam 2017 was ringing with auspicious music with the inclusion of 3 live music points and 23 music transmission points along the festival’s procession route

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THANK YOUVolunteers!

Saying thank you just once doesn’t quite seem enough when we think about how much our volunteers do.

So we’d like to say it a million times!

Every year, over 1000 people donate their skills, time and energies to help the Hindu Endowments Board run festivals

and programmes at its temples, pre-schools and halfway house.

Our volunteers raise funds in the community and manage the daily operations in our operating units. Some even do

odd jobs.

There are many who provide medical care and assistanceand also those who ensure that provision supplies reach

the less fortunate.

All of our volunteers contribute to our ultimate aim of ensuring that our operating units provide high quality service - whether it is through a religious ceremony,

an educational experience or rehabilitation.

So if you’re one of our many, fantastic volunteers, thank you so much for all you do.

Hindu Endowments Board

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Our Volunteers!

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