Little India is only "impoverished" relative to Sentosa Cove. The MRT station has an exit facing the back of the Istana (the Presidential Palace), there are plenty of condos popular with Western expats (City Square especially), high end malls, hipster cocktail and coffee bars and expensive design shops in shophouses.
It is one stop away from Dhoby Ghaut, the MRT station with the most connections to anywhere in the island, and three from Orchard, the one with arguably the highest commercial rents.