No Singaporean will go hungry

Helping hand for needy
No Singaporean will go hungry
Straits Times 6 Apr 08;

That is the promise Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan, gave to all Singaporeans in view of rising food prices.

'There is no question of an inadequate supply of food...It's a matter of price,' he said yesterday. 'We recognise that for the foreseeable future, prices will be high or may rise even further, so we will have to provide targeted assistance to people in greatest need.'

He said the Government is discussing with the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and cooperatives such as FairPrice, as well as private food retailers and distributors, on exploring schemes such as discount vouchers.

In the meantime, anyone needing help should contact his grassroots leader or call the ComCare helpline on 1800-222-0000. Dr Balakrishnan was speaking to reporters yesterday at the inaugural National Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circle Workshop 2008.

Ministers say needy will receive help to cope with soaring rice prices
Channel NewsAsia 5 Apr 08;

SINGAPORE: Soaring global prices for rice have led to fears of shortages, but several ministers have spoken out to assure the public that the situation in Singapore is under control.

Some added that the needy will get necessary funding and help.

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, said: "Decisions on the distribution of these funds will be made on the ground and at a local level. We're also in discussion with NTUC, with cooperatives like FairPrice, some private organisations and private food retailers and distributors to explore various schemes such as discount vouchers to distribute to needy families."

Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang said: "One of the reasons why we are explaining the situation to Singaporeans is to convince them that the supply is there and there's no need for panic.

"Singaporeans now eat a wide variety of foodstuff – rice, noodle, bread, so there are always other substitutes. We have a good stockpile situation. Our supply is stable."- CNA/so

ComCare sets aside S$1m to help the needy cope with inflation
Channel NewsAsia 6 Apr 08;

SINGAPORE: At least S$1 million will be set aside from the ComCare Fund to help the needy cope with inflation, Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon said on Sunday.

The ComCare Fund is also working with NTUC FairPrice to come up with schemes to help the lower-income group.

"As (the) chairman of ComCare, I have enough budget and am ready to supplement the effort... As long as (the) ComCare Endowment Fund is concerned, any scheme that comes out from NTUC, we are prepared to support," said Mrs Yu-Foo.

"The help is there, the resources (are) there, the thing now is... how to effectively reach out," she added.

ComCare has worked with FairPrice to give out food vouchers to the needy in the past, and Mrs Yu-Foo said needy Singaporeans can tap on the S$63.7 million ComCare Fund budgeted for this year.

Those who need help can call the ComCare helpline (1800-COMCARE) launched last year.

The Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) received about 8,600 calls over the last three months, and there has not been an increase in the number of calls asking for help due to higher food prices.

Mrs Yu-Foo said most calls received have been about unemployment and coping with family finances.

Food vouchers for staples such as rice will come in handy with the recent hike in the price of rice.

However, the frenzied buying seemed to have stabilised.

Some shoppers at a FairPrice outlet in Toa Payoh said they do not stock up on rice as they are confident that there is enough supply.

But some are still buying slightly more than usual.

"If they have enough stock, why (do) they increase the price of rice?" said a shopper.

FairPrice said although prices are up, with discounts given for its house brand, the overall increase is still less than 10 per cent, which is lower than the average 30-per-cent increase elsewhere. - CNA/ac

Million-dollar hand for the needy
ComCare to tackle fears of food price increase
Sheralyn Tay, Today Online 7 Apr 08;

As concerns mount over the availability and cost of rice and other staples, a scheme to help those in need cope with the rise in food prices will be finalised very soon.

This additional support, said Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) Yu-Foo Yee Shoon, would amount to about $1 million.

She was reiterating what Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan had said on Saturday when he disclosed that the Government was in discussions with the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), cooperatives such as FairPrice, private food retailers and distributors to come up with schemes to help the needy cope with rising food prices.

"As chairman of ComCare, I have enough budget and am ready to supplement the effort," said Mrs Yu-Foo who was speaking to the media yesterday on the sidelines of a community event. Assistance could be in the form of vouchers, similar to the one-off public transport vouchers given out last year to 100,000 low-income families amounting to $3 million.

She also gave the reassurance that there are sufficient resources and avenues available for those seeking assistance, be they social, educational or financial.

With the "generous" $200-million injection into the ComCare Endowment Fund at the recent Committee of Supply debate, an extra $16.1 million has been budgeted into this year's allocation, bringing it to $63.7 million.

"Last year, the economy grew quite well, so it was a happy situation. Not many people applied for help," she said. But she added that she expected more funds to be disbursed this year.

At the same time, Citizens' Consultative Committees (CCCs) will have an extra $6.25 million to allocate over and above last year's budget. Last year the CCC-ComCare fund helped about 8,000 needy families.

"So, don't worry, we have enough resources," said Mrs Yu-Foo, who also pointed out that there are many different assistance schemes available. Not including informal help from grassroots and privately-funded voluntary work organisations, there are 31 assistance schemes from the Government and statutory boards.

CCCs also have interim funds and food rations for those who need urgent help. But not all Singaporeans know where to seek help. Needy Singaporeans can turn to ComCare Call, which will direct them to the relevant agency.

Since it was launched in January, the 24-hour daily hotline at 1-800-222 0000 has fielded 8,600 calls and referred 3,000 callers to the CCCs and Family Service Centres.

$1m set aside to help needy with food costs
Straits Times 7 Apr 08;

Money comes from ComCare budget; NTUC and retailers will also contribute
THE first step in a joint effort to help needy Singaporeans cope with the rising cost of food items has come in the form of a kitty with at least $1 million in it.

The Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS), the National Trades Union Congress and NTUC FairPrice, along with private food retailers and distributors, have formed a loose group to find ways to tackle the problem.

The money will come from MCYS' ComCare fund and details would come 'very soon', said Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports Yu-Foo Yee Shoon.

'There is enough budget and we are ready to supplement the effort,' she said of the fund's $63.7 million budget.

ComCare is a fund Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong unveiled in January 2005 to help those left behind - the elderly, the poor and the jobless - as Singapore restructured its economy.

The Straits Times understands that others in the group will also contribute in cash or kind.

This effort follows an announcement last Thursday by Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry S. Iswaran, who said his ministry was working with MCYS to explore ways of helping those worst-hit by the rising prices of household essentials like coffee, tea, canned drinks, condensed milk and sugar.

Two days ago, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan also said the Government would provide 'targeted assistance to people in greatest need'.

Mrs Yu-Foo, who was at a senior citizens' walkathon at Bishan Park yesterday, said that while Singaporeans could still afford rice, the general price increases added up and could upset their financial situation.

She said MCYS would take a multi-pronged approach to help them through this period: 'Don't worry. We have enough resources, especially for children. Children should not drop out of school because of financial problems.'

Anyone who needs help may call the ComCare helpline at 1800-222-0000.

ComCare received 8,600 calls from January to March, with 22 per cent asking for financial aid, 14 per cent for social assistance and 9 per cent, for employment.