Budget’s benefits and social issues come in one package

Social and health outlays take centre stage in Budget 2014, with the S$8 billion Pioneer Generation Package being the centrepiece and a landmark in Singapore’s history (“Budget 2014 reinforces push for quality growth, inclusive society”; Feb 22).

The package will become an icon of our nation building, with a profound impact on the kind of society we will be shaping for generations.

Five years ago, who could imagine that such a fund would be provided to help 450,000 elderly citizens for life?

Raising fertility was our priority, resulting in a bigger Marriage and Parenthood Package last year of S$2 billion a year.

The package also serves as a reminder that the Government’s Population White Paper is worth another look.

In 2010, the Government took a serious look at ageing issues in a S$500,000 study. The research provided groundwork for drafting the White Paper, which many of us have unfortunately misconstrued, even after keen debate in and outside Parliament. It gives a broad analysis of our future demographic and social problems and recommends ways to promote marriage, boost births, reinforce family values and work-life balance, enhance integration and mitigate social divides, as well as support the aged and needy.

Together with feedback from Our Singapore Conversation, it forms a key framework for formulating social programmes.

The White Paper is thus like a building with sub-structures — demographic, social and fiscal — each with a role to play. Some recommended measures are pleasant, some not, but all must work in unison to achieve total well-being.

We should not cherry-pick the benefits, such as those in the Pioneer Generation Package or other social assistance, and refuse to accept the side effects.

Singapore is now headed in the right direction and looking at ways to solve or mitigate foreseeable problems, only one of which is that of elderly healthcare costs.

More Singaporeans should read the White Paper in totality and suggest ideas to improve or modify its recommendations if we can.