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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 $1 million kitty.
The Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS), 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.
Details will be announced 'very soon', said Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports Yu-Foo Yee Shoon.
For now, MCYS is shelling out at least $1 million from its ComCare Fund, she added.
'There is enough budget and we are ready to supplement the effort,' she said.
ComCare is a fund Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong first announced in January 2005, to help those left behind - namely the elderly, the poor and the jobless - as Singapore gets on with economic restructuring.
Prices of essential household items like coffee, tea, canned drinks, condensed milk and sugar, have been rising in the past year.
This effort followed an announcement last Thursday by Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry S. Iswaran who said his ministry is working with MCYS to explore new schemes to help those affected by the price hikes.
Two days ago, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan promised that the Government will provide 'targeted assistance to people in greatest need'.
Responding to reporters' queries at a senior citizen walkathon at Bishan Park yesterday, Mrs Yu-Foo said while Singaporeans could still afford rice now, the general price increases add up and can affect their financial situation.
She assured that MCYS will adopt a multi-pronged approach to help them through its social assistance schemes.
'Don't worry. We have enough resources, especially for children. Children should not drop out of school because of financial problems,' she said.
Anyone who needs assistance should call the ComCare helpline at 1800-222-0000.
It received 8,600 calls from January to March this year. Twenty-two per cent asked for financial aid, 14 per cent asked for social assistance, and nine per cent, for employment. The cases were referred to the Community Development Councils and Family Service Centres.
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