Asian Insider

Invisible Asia Ep 5: ‘What’s worse than the job is the humiliation we face’

11:56 min

Synopsis: The Invisible Asia Podcast is a special edition series in which The Straits Times casts the spotlight on people and communities living in the shadows of their societies where they exist largely unseen and unheard of. Do follow all nine episodes of Invisible Asia over the next two months on The Straits Times podcast channel on Apple podcasts, Spotify or Google podcasts.

The Straits Times' India correspondent Rohini Mohan shines the spotlight on India's sewer cleaners. As many as a million Dalits - the lowest of the low in India's caste-ridden society - still ply the dangerous trade despite it having been outlawed for years. And they are powerless to escape it.

In a country plagued with millions of choked toilets and drains, these indispensable workers go about their jobs daily without professional equipment, risking death from toxic fumes or drowning in liquid human waste, all to eke a living. Our series' narrator is Tan Jia Ning: 

1. Pedanna speaks of clearing out human waste in the streets, homes and offices, and of the abuse he faces daily for being a sewer cleaner (0:55)
2. The Indian government’s efforts to outlaw the dehumanising practice of manual scavenging has served only to force these workers underground (3:24)
3. Few police complaints are ever filed when a sewer cleaner dies at work, and the workers are often powerless to fight for compensation (5:54)
4. Senior sewer cleaner Munisamy shares how he copes with the daily disgust and humiliation he faces on the job (9:03)
5. Munisamy's 17-year-old granddaughter Chandana is among a new generation of Dalits who refuse to be silenced (9:50)

Read the full story by Rohini Mohan: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/whats-worse-than-the-job-is-the-humiliation-we-face

Produced by: Magdalene Fung, Tan Jia Ning, Sazali Abdul Aziz, Rohit Brijnath, Penelope Lee, Ernest Luis & Adam Azlee

Edited by: Adam Azlee

Discover Invisible Asia Podcast playlist: https://omny.fm/shows/st-bt/playlists/invisible-asia

Discover Invisible Asia Video playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnK3VE4BKduNKeEL19yhXFVHxGB8X315b

Discover ST & BT podcasts:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWVR

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP

Google podcasts: http://str.sg/googlestbt

Websites: http://str.sg/stbtpodcasts

https://bt.sg/moneyhacks

Feedback to: [email protected] 

---

Discover more niche podcast series by ST and BT below:

Follow BT Money Hacks Podcast on: http://bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

Follow BT Mark To Market Podcast on: http://bt.sg/btmark2mkt

Follow Health Check Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWaN

Follow Green Pulse Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWaf

Follow Asian Insider Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWa7

Follow Lunch With Sumiko Podcast on: https://str.sg/J6hQ

Follow #PopVultures Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWad

Follow Life Weekend Picks Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWa2

Follow #GameOfTwoHalves Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWRE

Follow Bookmark This! Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWas

Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

#InvisibleAsia

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Invisible Asia Ep 5: ‘What’s worse than the job is the humiliation we face’

11:56 min

Synopsis: The Invisible Asia Podcast is a special edition series in which The Straits Times casts the spotlight on people and communities living in the shadows of their societies where they exist largely unseen and unheard of. Do follow all nine episodes of Invisible Asia over the next two months on The Straits Times podcast channel on Apple podcasts, Spotify or Google podcasts.

The Straits Times' India correspondent Rohini Mohan shines the spotlight on India's sewer cleaners. As many as a million Dalits - the lowest of the low in India's caste-ridden society - still ply the dangerous trade despite it having been outlawed for years. And they are powerless to escape it.

In a country plagued with millions of choked toilets and drains, these indispensable workers go about their jobs daily without professional equipment, risking death from toxic fumes or drowning in liquid human waste, all to eke a living. Our series' narrator is Tan Jia Ning: 

Pedanna speaks of clearing out human waste in the streets, homes and offices, and of the abuse he faces daily for being a sewer cleaner (0:55)

The Indian government’s efforts to outlaw the dehumanising practice of manual scavenging has served only to force these workers underground (3:24)

Few police complaints are ever filed when a sewer cleaner dies at work, and the workers are often powerless to fight for compensation (5:54)

Senior sewer cleaner Munisamy shares how he copes with the daily disgust and humiliation he faces on the job (9:03)

Munisamy's 17-year-old granddaughter Chandana is among a new generation of Dalits who refuse to be silenced (9:50)

Read the full story by Rohini Mohan: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/whats-worse-than-the-job-is-the-humiliation-we-face

Produced by: Magdalene Fung, Tan Jia Ning, Sazali Abdul Aziz, Rohit Brijnath, Penelope Lee, Ernest Luis & Adam Azlee

Edited by: Adam Azlee

Discover Invisible Asia Podcast playlist: https://omny.fm/shows/st-bt/playlists/invisible-asia

Discover Invisible Asia Video playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnK3VE4BKduNKeEL19yhXFVHxGB8X315b

Discover ST & BT podcasts:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWVR

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP

Google podcasts: http://str.sg/googlestbt

Websites: http://str.sg/stbtpodcasts

https://bt.sg/moneyhacks

Feedback to: [email protected] 

---

Discover more niche podcast series by ST and BT below:

Follow BT Money Hacks Podcast on: http://bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

Follow BT Mark To Market Podcast on: http://bt.sg/btmark2mkt

Follow Health Check Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWaN

Follow Green Pulse Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWaf

Follow Asian Insider Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWa7

Follow Lunch With Sumiko Podcast on: https://str.sg/J6hQ

Follow #PopVultures Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWad

Follow Life Weekend Picks Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWa2

Follow #GameOfTwoHalves Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWRE

Follow Bookmark This! Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWas

Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

#InvisibleAsia

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asian Insider Ep 66: Asean's Myanmar dilemma

15:38 mins

Synopsis: Every Friday, The Straits Times' US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh presents an Asian perspective of the week's global talking points with expert guests.

Mr Kasit Piromya, former Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs, says Asean and Thailand in particular, have the obligation to restore democracy to the people of Myanmar.

Produced by: Nirmal Ghosh ([email protected]) & ST Video team

Edited by: ST Video team and Aleemah Basirah

Subscribe to Asian Insider Podcast series and rate us on your favourite audio apps:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8

Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/Ju4h 

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

Discover The Straits Times Videos: https://str.sg/JPrc

Read Ghosh's stories: https://str.sg/JbxG

Follow Nirmal Ghosh on Twitter: https://str.sg/JD7r

---

Discover more ST podcast series:

Asian Insider Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa7

Green Pulse Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaf

Health Check Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaN

ST Sports Talk Podcast: https://str.sg/JWRE

Life Weekend Picks Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa2

#PopVultures Podcast: https://str.sg/JWad

Bookmark This! Podcast: https://str.sg/JWas

Lunch With Sumiko Podcast: https://str.sg/J6hQ

Discover BT Podcasts:  http://bt.sg/podcasts

Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asian Insider Ep 66: Asean's Myanmar dilemma

15:38 mins

Synopsis: Every Friday, The Straits Times' US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh presents an Asian perspective of the week's global talking points with expert guests.

Mr Kasit Piromya, former Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs, says Asean and Thailand in particular, have the obligation to restore democracy to the people of Myanmar.

Produced by: Nirmal Ghosh ([email protected]) & ST Video team

Edited by: ST Video team and Aleemah Basirah

Subscribe to Asian Insider Podcast series and rate us on your favourite audio apps:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8

Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/Ju4h 

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

Discover The Straits Times Videos: https://str.sg/JPrc

Read Ghosh's stories: https://str.sg/JbxG

Follow Nirmal Ghosh on Twitter: https://str.sg/JD7r

---

Discover more ST podcast series:

Asian Insider Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa7

Green Pulse Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaf

Health Check Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaN

ST Sports Talk Podcast: https://str.sg/JWRE

Life Weekend Picks Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa2

#PopVultures Podcast: https://str.sg/JWad

Bookmark This! Podcast: https://str.sg/JWas

Lunch With Sumiko Podcast: https://str.sg/J6hQ

Discover BT Podcasts:  http://bt.sg/podcasts

Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Synopsis: The Invisible Asia Podcast is a special edition series in which The Straits Times casts the spotlight on people and communities living in the shadows of their societies where they exist largely unseen and unheard of. Do follow all nine episodes of Invisible Asia over the next two months on The Straits Times podcast channel on Apple podcasts, Spotify or Google podcasts.

The Straits Times' Indochina bureau chief Tan Hui Yee explores the lives of the Urak Lawoi, aboriginal Malays from Thailand’s sea gypsy community, who are battling the authorities and developers for their right to stay on in their long-time coastal homes on the resort island of Phuket. Our series' narrator is Tan Jia Ning: 

1. Jitti Pramongkit speaks of the discrimination and difficulties her people face daily (1:20) 
2. The Urak Lawoi fight a losing battle against rich developers and authorities for their land in Phuket (2:33) 
3. Patcharaphon Pramongkit recounts how being mocked and bullied led her to drop out of school eventually (5:07) 
4. The Urak Lawoi struggle to make a living and maintain their ways of life, especially during the pandemic (6:32) 
5. Why Jitti prays for tourists to return to Phuket once more (7:50) 

Read the full story by Tan Hui Yee: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/weve-always-lived-here-yet-we-dont-belong

Produced by: Tan Hui Yee, Magdalene Fung, Ernest Luis, Adam Azlee, Penelope Lee

Edited by: Adam Azlee

Discover ST's Invisible Asia podcast series:

Channel: https://str.sg/wuZn

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wu3s

Spotify: https://str.sg/wuJH

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

Invisible Asia Videos: https://str.sg/wuTU

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

ST Podcasts website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

---

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Invisible Asia Ep 4: 'We have always lived here, so they have to make space for us'

9:36 min

Synopsis: The Invisible Asia Podcast is a special edition series in which The Straits Times casts the spotlight on people and communities living in the shadows of their societies where they exist largely unseen and unheard of. Do follow all nine episodes of Invisible Asia over the next two months on The Straits Times podcast channel on Apple podcasts, Spotify or Google podcasts.

The Straits Times' Indochina bureau chief Tan Hui Yee explores the lives of the Urak Lawoi, aboriginal Malays from Thailand’s sea gypsy community, who are battling the authorities and developers for their right to stay on in their long-time coastal homes on the resort island of Phuket. Our series' narrator is Tan Jia Ning: 

1. Jitti Pramongkit speaks of the discrimination and difficulties her people face daily (1:20) 
2. The Urak Lawoi fight a losing battle against rich developers and authorities for their land in Phuket (2:33) 
3. Patcharaphon Pramongkit recounts how being mocked and bullied led her to drop out of school eventually (5:07) 
4. The Urak Lawoi struggle to make a living and maintain their ways of life, especially during the pandemic (6:32) 
5. Why Jitti prays for tourists to return to Phuket once more (7:50) 

Read the full story by Tan Hui Yee: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/weve-always-lived-here-yet-we-dont-belong

Produced by: Tan Hui Yee, Magdalene Fung, Ernest Luis, Adam Azlee, Penelope Lee

Edited by: Adam Azlee

Discover Invisible Asia Podcast playlist: https://omny.fm/shows/st-bt/playlists/invisible-asia

Discover Invisible Asia Video playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnK3VE4BKduNKeEL19yhXFVHxGB8X315b

Discover ST & BT podcasts:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWVR

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP

Google podcasts: http://str.sg/googlestbt

Websites: http://str.sg/stbtpodcasts

https://bt.sg/moneyhacks

Feedback to: [email protected] 

---

Discover more niche podcast series by ST and BT below:

Follow BT Money Hacks Podcast on: http://bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

Follow BT Mark To Market Podcast on: http://bt.sg/btmark2mkt

Follow Health Check Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWaN

Follow Green Pulse Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWaf

Follow Asian Insider Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWa7

Follow Lunch With Sumiko Podcast on: https://str.sg/J6hQ

Follow #PopVultures Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWad

Follow Life Weekend Picks Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWa2

Follow #GameOfTwoHalves Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWRE

Follow Bookmark This! Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWas

Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

#InvisibleAsia

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Invisible Asia Ep 4: 'We have always lived here, so they have to make space for us'

9:36 min

Synopsis: The Invisible Asia Podcast is a special edition series in which The Straits Times casts the spotlight on people and communities living in the shadows of their societies where they exist largely unseen and unheard of. Do follow all nine episodes of Invisible Asia over the next two months on The Straits Times podcast channel on Apple podcasts, Spotify or Google podcasts.

The Straits Times' Indochina bureau chief Tan Hui Yee explores the lives of the Urak Lawoi, aboriginal Malays from Thailand’s sea gypsy community, who are battling the authorities and developers for their right to stay on in their long-time coastal homes on the resort island of Phuket. Our series' narrator is Tan Jia Ning: 

Jitti Pramongkit speaks of the discrimination and difficulties her people face daily (1:20) 

The Urak Lawoi fight a losing battle against rich developers and authorities for their land in Phuket (2:33) 

Patcharaphon Pramongkit recounts how being mocked and bullied led her to drop out of school eventually (5:07) 

The Urak Lawoi struggle to make a living and maintain their ways of life, especially during the pandemic (6:32) 

Why Jitti prays for tourists to return to Phuket once more (7:50) 

Read the full story by Tan Hui Yee: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/weve-always-lived-here-yet-we-dont-belong

Produced by: Tan Hui Yee, Magdalene Fung, Ernest Luis, Adam Azlee, Penelope Lee

Edited by: Adam Azlee

Discover Invisible Asia Podcast playlist: https://omny.fm/shows/st-bt/playlists/invisible-asia

Discover Invisible Asia Video playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnK3VE4BKduNKeEL19yhXFVHxGB8X315b

Discover ST & BT podcasts:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWVR

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP

Google podcasts: http://str.sg/googlestbt

Websites: http://str.sg/stbtpodcasts

https://bt.sg/moneyhacks

Feedback to: [email protected] 

---

Discover more niche podcast series by ST and BT below:

Follow BT Money Hacks Podcast on: http://bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

Follow BT Mark To Market Podcast on: http://bt.sg/btmark2mkt

Follow Health Check Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWaN

Follow Green Pulse Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWaf

Follow Asian Insider Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWa7

Follow Lunch With Sumiko Podcast on: https://str.sg/J6hQ

Follow #PopVultures Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWad

Follow Life Weekend Picks Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWa2

Follow #GameOfTwoHalves Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWRE

Follow Bookmark This! Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWas

Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

#InvisibleAsia

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asian Insider Ep 65: Time not Asean's side as it scrambles for strategy for Myanmar crisis

11:20 mins

Synopsis: Every Friday, The Straits Times' US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh presents an Asian perspective of the week's global talking points with expert guests.

Asean does matter to Myanmar's generals, but the space for intervention is narrowing, as Asian Insider's guests Kavi Chongkittavorn and Moe Thuzar tell host Nirmal Ghosh.

Produced by: Nirmal Ghosh ([email protected]) & ST Video team

Edited by: ST Video team and Aleemah Basirah

Subscribe to Asian Insider Podcast series and rate us on your favourite audio apps:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8

Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/Ju4h 

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

Discover The Straits Times Videos: https://str.sg/JPrc

Read Ghosh's stories: https://str.sg/JbxG

Follow Nirmal Ghosh on Twitter: https://str.sg/JD7r

---

Discover more ST podcast series:

Asian Insider Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa7

Green Pulse Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaf

Health Check Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaN

ST Sports Talk Podcast: https://str.sg/JWRE

Life Weekend Picks Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa2

#PopVultures Podcast: https://str.sg/JWad

Bookmark This! Podcast: https://str.sg/JWas

Lunch With Sumiko Podcast: https://str.sg/J6hQ

Discover BT Podcasts:  http://bt.sg/podcasts

Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asian Insider Ep 65: Time not Asean's side as it scrambles for strategy for Myanmar crisis

11:20 mins

Synopsis: Every Friday, The Straits Times' US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh presents an Asian perspective of the week's global talking points with expert guests.

Asean does matter to Myanmar's generals, but the space for intervention is narrowing, as Asian Insider's guests Kavi Chongkittavorn and Moe Thuzar tell host Nirmal Ghosh.

Produced by: Nirmal Ghosh ([email protected]) & ST Video team

Edited by: ST Video team and Aleemah Basirah

Subscribe to Asian Insider Podcast series and rate us on your favourite audio apps:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8

Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/Ju4h 

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

Discover The Straits Times Videos: https://str.sg/JPrc

Read Ghosh's stories: https://str.sg/JbxG

Follow Nirmal Ghosh on Twitter: https://str.sg/JD7r

---

Discover more ST podcast series:

Asian Insider Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa7

Green Pulse Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaf

Health Check Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaN

ST Sports Talk Podcast: https://str.sg/JWRE

Life Weekend Picks Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa2

#PopVultures Podcast: https://str.sg/JWad

Bookmark This! Podcast: https://str.sg/JWas

Lunch With Sumiko Podcast: https://str.sg/J6hQ

Discover BT Podcasts:  http://bt.sg/podcasts

Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Synopsis: The Invisible Asia Podcast is a special edition series in which The Straits Times casts the spotlight on people and communities living in the shadows of their societies where they exist largely unseen and unheard of. Do follow all nine episodes of Invisible Asia over the next two months on The Straits Times podcast channel on audio apps - Apple podcasts, Spotify or Google podcasts.

The Straits Times' senior social affairs correspondent Theresa Tan speaks to two foreign brides in Singapore on their struggles to adapt to life in a new city, far from their loved ones back at home. Our series' narrator is Tan Jia Ning: 

1. Once a financially independent woman in Indonesia, Siti finds her movements restricted by her controlling husband in Singapore (0:31)
2. A timely programme and a buddy system prove a lifeline for lost, lonely Vietnamese bride Anna in the early years of her marriage (2:36) 
3. Anna pays it forward by befriending other Vietnamese women newly married to Singaporean men (3:33)
4. The collective plight of the many “voiceless", "invisible” migrant brides in Singapore (5:06) 

Read the full story by Theresa Tan: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/i-felt-so-alone-in-singapore

Produced by: Magdalene Fung, Tan Jia Ning and Ernest Luis

Edited by: Adam Azlee

Discover ST's Invisible Asia podcast series:

Channel: https://str.sg/wuZn

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wu3s

Spotify: https://str.sg/wuJH

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

Invisible Asia Videos: https://str.sg/wuTU

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

ST Podcasts website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

---

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.