Tweak how Budget 2020 grocery vouchers are distributed

The police have arrested more than 24 people believed to have stolen grocery vouchers issued by the Government to less well-off Singaporeans as part of Budget 2020. Tellingly, the police said that the cases of thefts from letter boxes in public housing flats across the island were unrelated and opportunistic.

I would like to suggest that the authorities consider alternative methods for the next two rounds of distribution of these vouchers.

First, the 150,000 eligible Singaporeans can collect the vouchers at their nearest Residents’ Committee centres or community clubs using a notification letter and their identity cards.

After all, households here have collected Government-issued masks in such a way.

Similarly, 400,000 Singaporean households were asked to collect their Community Development Council vouchers from community clubs when they were first given out in June.

It seems odd that a reason cited by the Government for the mailing of the vouchers this time round is to prevent crowding at community crowds, especially since the Covid-19 situation has improved compared to June.

Secondly, the Government could consider issuing e-vouchers which can be redeemed using one’s SingPass while those who are less tech savvy can have an option to select physical vouchers. 

This would also help reduce the number of people turning up physically to collect the vouchers.

With these suggestions, hopefully we will not see a repeat of the spate of voucher thefts.

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