CDCs should keep exploring ways to serve changing population: PM

SINGAPORE — The mission of Community Development Councils (CDCs) to help the needy and promote social bonding remains relevant, but Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong urged Mayors of the five districts here as they were sworn in yesterday to continue exploring ways to serve a changing population.

The needy continue to need help and more elderly individuals are living alone or with only their spouses as extended family ties weaken, said Mr Lee at the ceremony held at the People’s Association headquarters. Social bonds also need more tending to — as Singaporeans have more diverse interests and lead busier and more private lives — and in the nation’s new phase of development, community involvement must deepen to complement individual effort and the Government’s support for social needs, he said.

Mr Lee called on the CDCs to help build up the Social Service Offices, which were introduced by the Ministry of Social and Family Development last year to administer financial and social assistance programmes and coordinate the provision of social services. The CDCs should use their knowledge and networks to help the Social Service Offices start off on the right foot and “strike the right balance between administrative efficiency and personal touch”.

At the same time, the CDCs should go beyond social assistance to promote social mobility and encourage self-help, Mr Lee said. He noted that close partnership is already happening: For instance, the North East CDC’s Mentoring Programme complements financial assistance by the Social Service Offices with mentorship of low-income students. The programme is conducted at East View Primary School, but will be extended to more students and volunteers in the district.

Two new Mayors were sworn in yesterday — Parliamentary Secretary (Social and Family Development and Culture, Community and Youth) Low Yen Ling (South West District) and Ms Denise Phua (Central Singapore District). Three Mayors were reappointed for new terms that will run until May 2017: Dr Teo Ho Pin (North West District), Minister of State (Trade and Industry) Teo Ser Luck (North East District) and Minister of State (Defence and National Development) Mohamed Maliki Osman (South East District).

Dr Maliki said an emerging trend is that of elderly residents needing support after being discharged from hospital. Neighbours and students could be trained to visit the elderly to ensure they adhere to medication and do not fall, he said. Ms Phua, whose district is the largest and covers about two-thirds of the rental flats in Singapore, said a CDC could be a “system integrator” to identify residents’ needs and coordinate and add value to what other parties such as the grassroots, voluntary welfare organisations and schools are doing.

In his speech, Mr Lee said Mayors play key roles in leading the CDCs and urged them to remember the “basic ABCs” of their mission: Assist the needy, bond the people and connect the community.