Sustained Altruism and Festive Inclusion: The Role of Grassroots Humanitarianism in Counteracting Social Exclusion and Enhancing Migrant Worker Well-being in Singapore
Abstract
This paper examines the operational model and sociocultural significance of Krsna’s Free Meals (KFM), a grassroots soup kitchen located in Little India, Singapore, focusing specifically on its dual strategy of providing sustained nutritional support and culturally resonant festive inclusion. Using a recent case study documenting KFM’s daily operations and its annual Deepavali Fiesta for migrant workers, this research analyzes how this family-led initiative addresses structural vulnerabilities, namely food insecurity and social isolation, faced by low-wage labor migrants. The findings suggest that KFM employs critical principles of “dignity-in-aid,” utilizing high-quality ingredients and an optional token donation system to enhance recipient agency. Furthermore, the organization’s Deepavali celebration serves as a powerful de-othering mechanism, transforming a segment of the marginalized population into honored guests and significantly contributing to their subjective well-being. This case study contributes to the literature on urban grassroots humanitarianism, social capital formation, and the critical role of cultural celebration in migrant integration within highly regulated host states.
- Introduction: Migration, Vulnerability, and the Need for Grassroots Intervention
Singapore’s robust economy is heavily reliant on a large, low-wage migrant workforce, predominantly employed in the construction, marine, and services sectors. While these workers are indispensable to the nation’s infrastructure, they often face precarious living conditions characterized by long hours, dormitory confinement, financial pressures, and significant social alienation from the host community (Yeoh & Willis, 2005). Among the most pervasive vulnerabilities is the challenge of sustained food security and access to affordable, culturally appropriate meals, a structural gap often exacerbated by low incomes and high living costs in the urban center.
This paper uses the case of Krsna’s Free Meals (KFM), a soup kitchen operating in Singapore’s Little India district, to explore how grassroots, faith-inspired initiatives step in to fill these socio-economic voids. Founded in 2018 by Ms. Latha Govindasamy and her family, KFM provides daily free meals to an estimated 4,000 migrant workers, demonstrating a sustained commitment far beyond typical episodic charity. The organization’s activities culminate annually in the Deepavali Fiesta, a large-scale celebration intended explicitly to assure migrant workers that “you are not forgotten” (Koh, 2025).
The primary objective of this study is to dissect KFM’s operational philosophy and its impact on the social inclusion and dignity of its beneficiaries. We argue that KFM’s model moves beyond simple provisioning; it constitutes a form of active social repair that leverages cultural resonance (Deepavali) and principles of respect (dignity-in-aid) to counter the systemic “othering” experienced by this population.
- Literature Review
2.1. Structural Vulnerability and Food Insecurity in Migrant Labor Regimes
Standard migration studies highlight the structural power imbalance inherent in temporary foreign worker programs (Datta, 2006). In Singapore, migrant workers are bound by strict employment and housing regulations, often placing them in a state of dependency on employers and limiting their ability to advocate for better conditions, including adequate food and nutrition. While governmental or large-scale institutional aid often addresses crises (as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic), daily, sustainable, and tailored food provisioning remains a complex challenge.
Grassroots organizations often emerge as critical supplementary actors, providing aid that is flexible and localized. However, the quality and manner of this aid are crucial. When humanitarian aid is delivered without sensitivity to the recipient’s context, it can reinforce their lower social status, leading to shame and reduced uptake (Evers & Lee, 2012). The necessity, therefore, is for models that integrate dignity into the delivery mechanism.
2.2. The Principle of Dignity in Aid Delivery
Dignity-in-aid refers to the concept that assistance should be delivered in a way that preserves the recipient’s self-esteem, autonomy, and identity (Gopalan, 2019). Key indicators of dignified aid include user choice, transparency, respect for cultural dietary needs, and avoiding models that foster passive dependency.
KFM’s practice of setting up an optional donation box, allowing workers to contribute a token sum (50 cents or more), directly addresses this principle. Ms. Latha noted that this contribution “gives them a sense of dignity that they are contributing to their food and paying it forward” (Koh, 2025). This nominal payment mechanism transforms the receiver into a contributor, restoring a sense of agency often stripped away by structural poverty. Furthermore, the commitment to using high-quality, nutritionally superior ingredients (e.g., ponni rice over cheaper alternatives) signal a profound respect for the recipient’s physical well-being, moving beyond mere caloric provision.
2.3. Festivalization, Communitas, and Social Inclusion
Festivals are significant sociological phenomena that temporarily suspend social hierarchies and reinforce communal bonds. For diaspora and migrant populations, the celebration of traditions like Deepavali serves two crucial functions: maintaining cultural continuity with the homeland and creating communitas (Turner, 1969)—a shared, intense feeling of solidarity—within the often fragmented host environment.
When host community members actively organize and facilitate these festivals for the migrant population, the event acts as a powerful mechanism of social integration and de-othering. Unlike transactional aid, the festive environment provides psychological support, acknowledging the personal sacrifices made by workers who cannot be with their families during critical observances. The inclusion of political figures (such as the Minister of State for Manpower) further validates the workers’ presence and worth to the larger society.
- Case Study: Krsna’s Free Meals Operational Model
3.1. Founding and Daily Logistics
Krsna’s Free Meals was established in Little India in 2018 by Ms. Latha Govindasamy, her sisters, and their husbands, motivated by a observed lack of affordable, daily food options for migrant workers in the area. The operation runs on an extraordinary schedule, beginning at 4:30 a.m. to serve breakfast by 5:45 a.m., catering to workers starting their day or returning from night shifts.
The organization’s dedication is demonstrated by Ms. Latha transitioning from a private tutoring career to full-time management of the soup kitchen. The daily output is massive: having served 5.5 million meals since inception, KFM now caters to approximately 4,000 individuals daily, sustained solely by public donations since 2021 (Koh, 2025).
3.2. Ethical and Nutritional Prioritization
KFM’s menu strategy reflects a high degree of cultural competence and ethical consideration:
Universality: All meals are strictly vegetarian and prepared without onion or garlic, ensuring palatability across diverse cultural and religious dietary restrictions prevalent among South Asian workers.
Nutritional Quality: The conscious decision to select more nutritious ingredients, such as ponni rice, despite the higher cost, underscores a commitment to the long-term health of the beneficiaries, rejecting the notion that charity necessitates substandard quality.
Variety: The kitchen employs a rotating menu (chapati, mee goreng, sambal fried rice) to provide variety, acknowledging that the beneficiaries are consuming these meals daily and deserve anticipation and pleasure in their food, not just necessity.
3.3. The Deepavali Fiesta: From Provision to Celebration
The annual Deepavali Fiesta epitomizes KFM’s commitment to holistic care. Held on Oct 20 (2025), the expected attendance of over 5,000 workers highlights its scale and importance. This event transitions the organization’s role from a daily provider of necessity to a host of cultural celebration.
The fiesta provides:
Cultural Staples: Hot briyani (a celebratory dish) and traditional sweets.
Practical Gifts (Care Packs): Items selected based on observed practical needs. In 2024, umbrellas were provided after volunteers observed workers using cardboard for shelter; in 2025, reusable water bottles aligned with sustainability were chosen to replace often-crushed, disposable plastic bottles (Koh, 2025). This responsiveness illustrates a deep, empathetic engagement with the daily struggles of the workers.
Symbolic Inclusion: The presence of Ms. Latha and her extended family, who spend their own Deepavali holiday serving workers, transforms the typically isolating experience of celebrating a major festival away from home into a shared, communal experience.
- Analysis and Discussion: Grassroots Agency and the Cultivation of Subjective Well-being
4.1. Counteracting Isolation: The “You Are Not Forgotten” Narrative
The headline message, “You are not forgotten,” encapsulates the critical psychological dimension of KFM’s work. Structural alienation is a significant burden for migrant workers; feeling invisible or disposable undermines mental health and subjective well-being (SWB). By dedicating their family’s time and resources, particularly during a deeply personal family holiday, KFM actively performs a counter-narrative of recognition and value.
The Deepavali Fiesta acts as a powerful annual ritual of affirmation. It is not merely an act of kindness but a public declaration of the workers’ significance, utilizing the symbolism of light (Deepavali) to cast them out of the social shadows. This recognition, facilitated by grassroots actors, is often more emotionally impactful than formalized institutional aid because it is perceived as genuine, unmandated altruism, stemming from a philosophy of shared humanity instilled by Ms. Latha’s parents (Koh, 2025).
4.2. Operationalizing Dignity and Agency
KFM’s adherence to the principles of dignity-in-aid is exemplary. The voluntary 50-cent donation transforms the aid relationship from a purely hierarchical donor-recipient model into a collaborative, community effort. This aligns with theories of self-determination, where even small acts of contribution foster greater psychological ownership and reduces the internalization of social stigma associated with receiving charity.
Furthermore, the prioritization of food quality (ponni rice) and menu variety demonstrates the organization’s understanding that essential services should not compromise human experience or health. This ethos shifts the focus from purely addressing deficit (hunger) to actively promoting well-being (nutrition and enjoyment).
4.3. The Role of the Family and Sustained Volunteerism
The KFM model is distinct because it is fundamentally driven by a tight-knit family unit, utilizing their inherent social capital and inherited values of generosity (Ms. Latha’s recollection of her parents feeding strangers). This deep personal investment allows for unprecedented continuity and personalized service—a scale that conventional, bureaucratic NGOs often struggle to achieve.
The daily involvement of at least 24 volunteers, some of whom are migrant workers themselves, further closes the gap between the aid provider and recipient (Koh, 2025). This reciprocal arrangement helps build social capital within the migrant community, allowing beneficiaries to become active volunteers who “pay it forward,” reinforcing the organization’s founding message of mutual contribution.
4.4. Organizational Agility and Crisis Response
KFM’s history demonstrates significant organizational agility, essential for grassroots operations. During the highly restrictive COVID-19 pandemic, when migrant workers were confined to their dormitories, KFM quickly adapted its model from serving meals at its shophouse to delivering food packets directly to the workers. This rapid response capacity highlights the advantage of smaller, mission-driven organizations that can circumvent procedural barriers to address immediate and critical needs, cementing their status as reliable support pillars within the Little India ecosystem.
- Conclusion
Krsna’s Free Meals provides a compelling case study in effective, culturally sensitive grassroots humanitarianism within a high-income, labor-migrant receiving state. Operating under severe logistical demands, the organization not only mitigates the pervasive issue of food insecurity among migrant workers but also proactively addresses their psychological and social vulnerabilities.
By integrating the principle of dignity through autonomy (the token donation) and quality (nutritional standards), KFM challenges the traditional, passive model of charity. Its annual Deepavali Fiesta transforms a temporary financial relief mechanism into a powerful ritual of social inclusion, effectively countering the structural forces of alienation and “othering” that define the migrant experience. By saying, “You are not forgotten,” KFM and its volunteers actively construct a community space where migrant laborers are recognized as valued contributors and honored guests.
Future research could focus on quantifying the long-term impact of KFM’s intervention on the mental health and economic decision-making of highly engaged beneficiaries. Furthermore, studying the scalability of this family-led model and its sustainability in integrating local senior citizens and migrant volunteer labor offers valuable lessons for urban humanitarian aid practices globally.
References
Datta, A. (2006). Labour, gender and the migration of the poor. Progress in Human Geography, 30(5), 570-588.
Evers, H. D., & Lee, B. S. A. (2012). The Handbook of Southeast Asian Migration. Edward Elgar Publishing.
Gopalan, M. (2019). Dignified Aid: A conceptual framework and assessment tool for humanitarian programming. Journal of Public Affairs, 19(4).
Koh, M. L. (2025, October 20). ‘You are not forgotten’: Soup kitchen in Little India celebrates Deepavali with migrant workers. The Straits Times.
Turner, V. (1969). The Ritual Process: Structure and Anti-Structure. Aldine Publishing.
Yeoh, B., & Willis, L. (2005). Singapore’s international migration: an economic and social profile. International Migration, 43(1-2), 173-201.
Krsna’s Free Meals
Address: 20 Veerasamy Road, Singapore 207327 (Administrative office)
Contact: +65 9105 6343
Operating Hours: Daily 6:30am-9am & 11am-2:30pm
Service Type: Mobile distribution at migrant worker dormitories
Review
A volunteer-run mobile soup kitchen that has distributed over 1 million meals since inception. Krsna’s Free Meals focuses on serving migrant workers and other vulnerable populations with home-style cooked food. Their approach is grassroots and personal, with volunteers personally delivering meals to various locations. The food is prepared with love and attention, often featuring Indian and international cuisines. This organization particularly excels in reaching underserved communities.
Detailed Menu & Service Schedule:
Breakfast Service (6:30am – 9:00am):
- Indian Breakfast Options:
- Upma (semolina porridge) with vegetables, mustard seeds, curry leaves
- Poha (flattened rice) with onions, peanuts, turmeric
- Idli with sambar and coconut chutney
- Simple Rice Meals: Plain rice with pickle and dal
- Bread & Curry: Local bread with vegetable curry
- Hot Beverages: Masala chai, coffee
Lunch Service (11:00am – 2:30pm):
- Traditional Indian Thali:
- Steamed basmati rice with ghee
- 2-3 vegetable curries (potato curry, cauliflower masala, bhindi fry)
- Dal tadka (lentils tempered with cumin, mustard seeds, ginger)
- Fresh rotis/chapatis
- Pickle and papad
- Buttermilk or lassi
- International Options (Weekly Rotation):
- Vegetable fried rice with soy sauce and vegetables
- Pasta with tomato sauce and herbs
- Noodle soup with local vegetables
Festival & Special Occasion Menus:
- Diwali: Special sweets like laddu, gulab jamun, extra varieties of curry
- Holi: Thandai (spiced milk), colorful vegetarian dishes
- Janmashtami: Makhan (butter) preparations, special Krishna-inspired meals
Cooking Methods & Ingredients:
- Home-style cooking with minimal oil and fresh spices
- Traditional Indian tempering (tadka) with mustard seeds, cumin, curry leaves
- Fresh vegetables from local markets, cooked daily
- Spice blends made from scratch (garam masala, sambar powder)
Nutritional Information:
- Breakfast: 350-450 calories, high carbohydrates for energy
- Lunch: 600-800 calories, complete protein from dal and rice combination
- Rich in vitamins from fresh vegetables and spices
- Probiotic benefits from buttermilk and fermented items
Dietary Accommodations:
- ✅ Vegetarian (contains dairy – ghee, yogurt, milk)
- ✅ Jain-friendly options (no root vegetables upon request)
- ⚠️ Contains gluten (chapati, some pasta dishes)
- ⚠️ Dairy products used in cooking
- ⚠️ Spicy food (mild options available)
- ❌ Limited vegan options due to ghee usage
Portion Sizes: Generous home-style portions, designed to provide sustenance for manual laborers, typically includes 2-3 chapatis and full rice plate
Distribution Model: Mobile service reaching 15-20 locations daily, including construction sites and worker dormitories
Strengths: Mobile service, focuses on migrant workers, home-cooked quality, personal touch Unique Feature: No fixed location – meals distributed where needed most
How to Get There
Note: This is a mobile service – meals are distributed at various migrant worker dormitory locations. Contact the organization directly for current distribution points and times
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