GRASSROOTS GRANT FOR COMMUNITY PROJECTS (Extension of projects)

The following Question stood in the name of Mr Chew Heng Ching -

Mr Chew Heng Ching: To ask the Minister for Community Development if he will consider extending the grassroots grant set aside in every financial year for community projects to projects organised by the Civil Defence Coordinating Committees, Constituency Sports Clubs and other grassroots organisations.

Mr Chng Hee Kok: Question No. 3, Sir.

The Minister of State for Community Development (Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon) (for the Minister for Community Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, I am replying on behalf of my Minister.

The grassroots grant set aside by the Government every financial year may be used for projects which Citizens' Consultative Committees (CCCs) and Residents' Committees (RCs) organise jointly with other grassroots organisations, including the Civil Defence Coordinating Committees and Constituency Sports Clubs.

The Grassroots Grant Committee has in fact approved grants for a number of Civil Defence projects organised jointly by the grassroots organisations in a few constituencies.

Grassroots organisations requiring grants for joint projects should submit their requests through the CCCs and their Advisers so that there will be better coordination in the application and allocation of the grassroots grants in each constituency.

Apart from the grassroots grant, the Singapore Sports Council also gives an annual grant to each Constituency Sports Club. This annual grant varies according to the number of sports activities it organises.

CCC Advisers should make full use of these annual grants to organise community projects and sports activities for the benefit of their constituents.