CDCs should prep up for inflation

October 20, 2011

Letter from Leong Sze Hian
04:46 AM Oct 15, 2011

I REFER to the report “Fewer sought help last year, but CDCs gear up for uncertain outlook” (Oct 6), which reported that between April last year and this March, the Community Development Councils disbursed S$61 million to assist 61,500 beneficiaries.

This is down from the S$66 million given to more than 80,500 residents through the national ComCare schemes the year before. It works out to an average monthly assistance per beneficiary of S$83 and S$68 over the two years, respectively.

This means the average monthly assistance has increased, by 22 per cent.

I applaud the CDCs for giving more assistance and for their various funding schemes with corporations and individuals to help needy Singaporeans through other non-ComCare assistance programmes.

Notwithstanding the good work that the CDCs are doing, with inflation running at 5.7 per cent in August, I suggest that ComCare assistance benefits be indexed for inflation.

After all, even with the increase in the average assistance given to beneficiaries, S$83 may not be enough now.

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About the Author

Leong
Leong Sze Hian has served as the president of 4 professional bodies, honorary consul of 2 countries, an alumnus of Harvard University, authored 4 books, quoted over 1500 times in the media , has been a radio talkshow host, a newspaper daily columnist, Wharton Fellow, SEACeM Fellow, columnist for theonlinecitizen and Malaysiakini, executive producer of Ilo Ilo (40 international awards), Hotel Mumbai (associate producer), invited to speak more than 200 times in about 40 countries, CIFA advisory board member, founding advisor to the Financial Planning Associations of 2 countries. He has 3 Masters, 2 Bachelors degrees and 13 professional  qualifications.