A new committee, the Indian Engagement and Development Initiative (INEI), has been launched to deepen engagement within the Singapore Indian community, focusing on social upliftment, integration, and leadership development.
The committee, named INEI – which means to be linked or connected in Tamil – signals a community-led effort to build strong networks and foster a more confident, future-facing Singaporean Indian identity over the next five years.
This was announced by Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) Dinesh Vasu Dash at MCCY’s Committee of Supply debate on Mar 5.
Led by Senior Minister of State for Transport and Law Murali Pillai and Mr Dinesh, the INEI Committee is the result of extensive engagement since August 2025. Over 150 Singapore Indian organisations and more than 240 Indian youth leaders have participated in dialogues, sharing aspirations on how to collectively support community members and strengthen integration.
The idea was first mooted last August by Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K. Shanmugam, who shared that a new committee would be formed to support Indian organisations in tackling challenges faced by the Singaporean Indian community.
“This will be a committee by the community, and for the community,” said Mr Dinesh. He added that the INEI will build strong networks across the Indian community, bringing together partners who are already doing good work on the ground, including the Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA) and Narpani, by coordinating efforts across three key priorities.
Firstly, driving community upliftment by enhancing socio-economic outcomes for the Indian community, particularly vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals and families, Mr Dinesh said. This includes enhancing coordination to deliver targeted, last-mile assistance.
Secondly, it will strengthen social cohesion and foster a ‘We First’ spirit and unity among the diverse Indian sub-communities in Singapore. The Committee will encourage collaboration in areas like arts and sports to enhance social mixing and promote stronger bonds within the community and with the wider Singaporean society.
Thirdly, it will develop a pipeline of Indian Singaporean youth leaders. New avenues will be created for Indian Singaporean youth to contribute and the next generation of community leaders will be nutured by providing them with the capabilities and opportunities to serve.
To sustain momentum and encourage collective action, an annual INEI Forum will be established as a platform for the community to discuss aspirations, review progress, and discuss future initiatives. Mr Dinesh said that the inaugural whole-of-community dialogue is scheduled for April 2026, with the theme of building a ‘Strong and United Singapore Indian community.’
Community members are invited to step forward and play an active role in shaping this important five-year initiative, with further details on sub-committees and engagement to be announced at the first dialogue.
