By MP for Aljunied GRC, Muhamad Faisal bin Abdul Manap
[Delivered in Committee of Supply on 12 March 2015]
Considerable amount of funding are set aside to assist the vulnerable groups, and as such it is important to track the progress and effectiveness of the different assistance schemes. The publication of the tracked findings can enhance the fostering of a more inclusive growth in economic development and cultivate better alignment and coordination among NGOs, VWOs and state agencies.
I would like to again highlight my proposal in the Presidential Speech motion, delivered in Parliament on 26 May 2014, that the Government should consider publishing an annual State of Social Protection report to give an account of the status of vulnerable groups, to track the progress made and to account on the performance of schemes of its assistance programs. This is to establish accountability, evaluation and to raise awareness.
With regards to vulnerable groups, this annual report can include information on the types of vulnerable groups in Singapore and their sizes; a breakdown of public funds delivered over the past five years; clear definitions of the objectives of assistance programmes; and the rate of success of such programmes over a five year period.
The annual report can also report on the state of social work in Singapore. It may include information on the number of social workers engaged with different vulnerable groups; the typical workload of social workers; and the attrition rate of social workers over five years.
The Government needs to account to the public on the performance of its assistance programs, to share on the progress and performance of such programs in assisting the vulnerable groups. Statistics collected and contained in the report will serve as a basis for evaluation in an objective manner, which can be used to set long and short targets to achieve, and to evaluate on whether the programs and schemes have effectively, economically and duly addressed the targeted groups. The publishing of the report will also enhance and assist in raising public awareness, as an inclusive society can only be achieved when the full spectrum of the society understands and is aware of the problems and issues faced by the less well-off members of the society.
Published tracking findings will foster better alignment and coordination amongst NGOs, VWOS and state agencies as they will be relying on a common set of tracking tools to identify and service vulnerable groups.