VOLUNTARY WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS

Dr Tay Eng Soon asked the Acting Minister for Social Affairs (a) how many active voluntary welfare organizations there are in Singapore; (b) how much financial aid is being given by his Ministry to those organizations; (c) how many persons are receiving help directly from those organizations; and (d) how many persons are receiving help from his Ministry's welfare services.

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Affairs (Mr Chan Chee Seng) (for the Acting Minister for Social Affairs): Mr Speaker, Sir, there are altogether 156 known voluntary organizations in Singapore, most of which are affiliated to the Singapore Council of Social Service which is the coordinating body for volun- tary welfare activities. About 70 of them are actively providing welfare services to the needy in the form of residential care for the young and the aged, social work services and special education and vocational training for the disabled.

In 1980, these organizations received a total of $191,183 by way of token subventions from the Government. In addition, the Government seconded 11 instructors from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Ill teachers from the Ministry of Education to these organizations.

Based on available information, the total number of persons being helped by voluntary welfare organizations is around 18,730. The number of persons who received welfare assistance from my Ministry during the period April, 1980 to February, 1981 was 22,485.

Dr Tay Eng Soon: Sir, I would like to ask the Acting Minister for Social Affairs what more can be done by his Ministry in this very worthwhile work they are doing to support voluntary welfare organizations. I think all of us. in this House are happy to note that there are so many voluntary welfare organizations in Singapore helping those that are aged, the young or the disabled, and they give us the hope that some of us at least are not becoming crass materialists. So my question to the Minister is, what more can the Ministry of Social Affairs do to promote voluntary organizations and people to go into such organizations?

Mr Chan Chee Seng: Mr Speaker, Sir, may I answer on behalf of my Ministry? The label "voluntary welfare organizations" indicates that these organizations have the financial capacity and management ability. They also have ample capability of looking after their own problems. If we come in and assist them, then that organization is no more a voluntary organization. However, we do help some organizations when they need us, but normally they do not come to us for help. In case there are organizations which need the help of the Ministry, the Ministry would be happy to look into their request.