While the Indian community has made significant strides over the past three generations, targeted support remains crucial for families who continue to struggle, said Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment Dr Janil Puthucheary.
Speaking at a post-National Day Rally dialogue, organised by the People’s Association Indian Activity Executive Committees Council (Narpani Pearavai), on Aug 27, Dr Janil noted that the Indian community had “progressed tremendously” alongside Singapore and was doing well on average. But he stressed that disadvantaged families must not be left behind.
“Addressing those problems requires our involvement. We can mentor, handhold, and support families in our constituencies. Mobilising younger members of our community and coordinating across organisations will allow us to focus our efforts on those who need help the most,” Dr Janil said.
Nearly 200 grassroots leaders, volunteers, and representatives from Indian organisations took part in the annual dialogue, which serves as a platform for reflection after major national events such as the National Day Rally.
Alongside Dr Janil, Sembawang GRC MP Vikram Nair and West Coast–Jurong West GRC MP Dr Hamid Razak were present as panellists.
This year’s discussion spanned a wide range of topics, including the outreach of Indian organisations, career pathways for youth, graduate employment, mid-career training, healthcare, bilingualism, elderly care, and anxieties about artificial intelligence in the workforce and education.
Dr Hamid, who attended for the first time as a grassroots adviser, told tabla! that it was meaningful to participate in the dialogue, adding that the grassroots leaders present displayed a deep sense of concern for the community.
“This reflects the Prime Minister’s call for a community spirit of ‘we-first’ in tackling challenges together,” he said.
Mr Vikram underscored the important role Indian community leaders play as intermediaries, by both sharing feedback with the Government and helping to implement policies on the ground.
He pointed to initiatives announced by the Prime Minister, such as anti-vaping campaigns, estate upgrades, and enhanced cross-border connectivity in the north, as examples of measures that would benefit all Singaporeans, including the Indian community.
