SINGAPORE: Acting Minister for Community
Development, Youth and Sports, Mr Chan Chun Sing said Singapore
needs to grow its social services much more in
future.
This is in view of the changing demographics and
advancements in technology, which may see a rising number of
elderly singles and people with disabilities outliving their
caregivers.
Social services cater to those who need social
support as they may not have family members to fall back on.
"Singles may not have very acute medical and social needs today,
because they are healthy... but the challenges will come in 20
years' time, when the young singles become the old singles," said
Mr Chan.
"How do you design social services that are within the community so
that you do not uproot people? These are new challenges down there
if 20 to 30 per cent of our people remain single throughout their
lives."
Mr Chan said help and support systems will have to evolve with the
changing demographics.
The new Social and Family Development ministry intends to better
integrate social services at the community level, to make support
more accessible.
As for manpower, the aim is to attract more retirees and housewives
to meet the higher demand for social services.
Mr Chan said public expectations of such services have also
changed.
With the widening income gap, those in the middle income group are
also increasingly feeling unsettled.
Singapore already spends about 40 per cent of its budget on social
spending - mostly in the form of transfers for housing and
education.
Other areas are in social services, medical subsidies and
employment.
Mr Chan said the government is always ready to do more, but he
added resources will be an issue.
He said: "This government will always try do more and try to do
better for our people - to the extent that some people criticise us
for doing too much. The real issue for us is how to get this thing
done - where to find the resources... those are the challenges that
are real."
Mr Chan said resources will have to be put to better use, such as
helping voluntary welfare organisations pool resources, through the
formation of social service hubs.
- CNA/xq