Stories to Inspire
Govindasamy Gunashgaran Naidu
Through his eyes, life is beautiful
Having survived trying times after acquiring his disability, Govindasamy Gunashgaran Naidu, or Govin as he is fondly known by friends, goes about his life now with optimism. ExtraPage’s Gordon Ho catches up with him.
“Blessing money,” he says with a smile, in between putting a variety of coins left on his table into a container. One of the first things you notice when speaking to Govin is his appreciation of what he has and pride in his work, which is maintaining the cleanliness and collecting money from the users of two public toilets near a Muslim eatery in Bishan.
The cheerful 56-year-old greets everyone with a smile or a friendly hello, clearly at peace with and enjoying every moment of his life. To Govin, a wheelchair user, he considers whatever he has now a blessing and luxury as compared to what he has gone through previously. “I have a house to live in, a nice job, money for food and transport to and from church every Sunday. I am very happy!” he declared.
Some years ago, Govin became paralysed after a fall. The resulting disabilities cost him his job as a taxi driver, and he had to survive on public assistance. A divorcee, Govin was living alone then. His daughter, who was married and staying with her family in Malaysia, tried as much to visit and help him but finances were still tight. His household bills were in arrears of more than $1,000.
It was timely then that Jess Ho, a case management officer from SPD’s Specialised Case Management Programme, stepped in to assist him. She came to know of Govin through his daughter who called SPD after reading about it in the newspaper. “Jess helped me so much. I know she must be very busy but she still put in a lot of effort to help me with money matters, look for a job, get vouchers for groceries and get volunteers to clean my house. I am very thankful to her for all her help,” said Govin.
Having received only primary education and being a wheelchair user, securing a job was a hurdle. Yet despite several failed attempts from the interviews Jess lined up for him, a bullish Govin never gave up hope to be self-reliant and independent. He finally landed his current job through the recommendation of his Community Development Council.
It is a wonder how Govin manages to overcome his physical limitations to clean the toilets under his care. At his work place, the distinct absence of any stench and the decorated doors reflect the dedication and pride Govin has in his role as a toilet caretaker. As he puts it, “This is how we must do business, you see. If you’re good to people, they are good to you also. There is nothing wrong in cleaning toilets. You look at the nurses in hospitals. They are highly educated but they still need to clean up after patients who cannot control their bowels. If they can do that, why should I mind what I do here?”
During his free time, he would go grocery shopping for his daily meals at the nearby supermarket and read his bible at night. A caring and generous man, he sometimes buys meals for his bed-ridden neighbour, lets elderly or disabled people use the toilets for free or render help to anyone he deems needs it. Every Sunday, the staunch Christian takes a taxi to his church in Jalan Kayu, picking up three other elderly people along the way.
Throughout the 11/2-hour interview, almost everyone who passed by acknowledged Govin and at least two elderly gentlemen sang praises in Hokkien about him being a happy and good man.
“If I get well and am able to earn more money again, I want to help the poor and needy. I have never missed a day of work or church. I’m very happy to work here and will be here every day for as long as I have the energy to work.” He may not be regarded as well off by many, but Govin already sounds like one of the wealthiest and happiest persons I will ever get to know.