Outreach Efforts for Government Assistance Schemes Mr Tay Kian ...

7. We thank Mr. Tay for his comments and would like to assure him that theGovernment is committed to enhancing our outreach efforts and will continue towork with the grassroots in making information on Government schemes easilyaccessible, especially for those in greatest need.MR CHIN SAU HODIRECTOR (CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS & SERVICES)MINISTRY OF FINANCEMS FARAH ABDUL RAHIMDIRECTOR (CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS)MINISTRY OF MANPOWERMRS CHOO LEE SEEDIRECTOR (COMCARE AND SOCIAL SUPPORT DIVISION)MINISTRY OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT YOUTH & SPORTS

HELP SCHEMESTHERE are many assistance schemes for needy Singaporeans, especiallyduring the current recession. Such programmes are reported and advertisedwidely. My worry is whether the intended targets understand these messages, orcan even access them conveniently.We often see footnotes to assistance messages citing the URL or Web addresswhere one can get more details. But few among the underprivileged have accessto personal computers or are even savvy enough to navigate websites like thoseof the Central Provident Fund Board, Workforce Development Agency andMinistry of Manpower for the information.I checked residents' committees' (RC) notice boards and visited a communitycentre, as well as RC notice boards at lift lobbies and did not find a single posteror flier advertising such help schemes. Shouldn't such areas be prime spots asthey would offer the needy the information virtually on their doorstep?When I asked for information about the Workfare Income Supplement scheme ata community centre, the staff had to rummage in a cabinet before retrieving aglossy pamphlet titled "Workfare Income Supplement Scheme" in the four officiallanguages.When I asked why such information on pertinent government aid schemes werenot displayed, the reply was that the publications were given only upon request.To top that, the pamphlet given to me was outdated – meant for the year 2007.Government agencies should be more practical and efficient in conveyinginformation on aid schemes. Glossy publications are unnecessary. Black andwhite A4-size fliers in plain English as well as the other official languages aregood enough. Use the savings to ensure that those who need the information getthem.Even more effective would be mailing personalised letters to each Singaporeanwho qualifies for aid, listing the programmes to which they can apply.Personalised outreach is not impossible, given the comprehensive data theGovernment has of Singaporeans.Tay Kian Tong