"ComCare Fund– Key Issues & Suggestions for ImprovementContributed by IntroductionThe Community Care Endowment Fund (known as “ComCare Fund’) wasset up by Governmentof Singapore in 2005 to provide assistance to the needy Singaporeans. The objective and intentof ComCare Fund is indeed commendable. However, many issues in relation to ComCare Fundhave been debated in different circles. In this context, we analyze keysocio-economicissuesregarding beneficiaries and whether room for improving the programme implementationexists to make it more effective.Key IssuesOver the years, outreach and operations under the ComCare Fund have grown impressively andinitiatives taken by Government for increasing accessibility of the assistance (hermes, 2016). Manysocio-economic issues have nevertheless been raised in media and other circles. One issue iswhether genuinely unemployed potential beneficiaries are being deprived help underComCaresince the Fund disburses assistance to employed people as well.As many as 26 per centbeneficiaries of Short Term Assistance Programme were employed (Hui&hermes, 2016). Corollarysocial issue is whether such employed beneficiaries are actually going in for skill up gradation asis intended in the scheme or just collecting subsidies.Another issue which has social and demographic implications is that coverage of the programmeamong younger population is not adequate. More than 50 per cent of the beneficiaries were agedmore than 40 years under Short Term Assistance Programme. As regards Long Term AssistanceProgramme, 90 per cent of the beneficiaries were aged 60 years and above. Out of these, morethan three-quarters had primary level or no formal educational qualification. This appears highlylop-sided from the point of view of proper representation of different age groups. Evidence Supporting ComCare One of the core principles on which ComCare operates is that any assistance should aim to buildself-reliance in the beneficiary (“Feature,” n.d.). The emphasis is on mutual obligation, and notentitlementimplying theindividuals seeking help should also be prepared to help themselves.Moreover, even among employed beneficiaries there are persons who have low income due topoor education or have big families to support or medical conditions restricting workinghours(HUI &hermes, 2016).Therefore, provision of assistance to employed coming from lowincome groups is a justifiable target group. As regards issue of lesser number of youth beneficiaries, a total of 27,461 unique householdswere assisted under Short Term Assistance in FY2014, many of whom have young dependentsbelow 21 years of age(“Annual report for financial year 2014 FUND CARE,” 2015, pp. 6-6). In thisrespect, while age of the primary beneficiary may be above 40 years, the assistance is helpingthe needy family as a whole so that the next generation can break out of the poverty cycle.Evidence against ComCareWhile ComCare statistics exhibit impressive growth, the Programme is benefiting employedpersons at the cost of unemployed who need greater hand-holding. Rate of unemployment amongSingapore citizens and residents rose in the second quarter of 2016, according to estimatesreleased by the Ministry of Manpower. Among citizens, the unemployment rate rose to 3.1 percent in June 2016, from 2.6 per cent in the previous quarter (“Unemployment rises among Singaporecitizens, residents in Q2”, 2016). Insofar as issue of lower coverage of youth is concerned, data highlights that under Short TermProgramme, 51 per cent of beneficiaries were in age of 40 and 50. Under Long TermProgramme, almost 90 per cent of the beneficiaries were aged 60 years and above. Fromdemographic balance perspective, this appears highly skewed against the youth, particularlywhen ComCare is intended to be a commitment from Government to ensure that no one is leftbehind. These inconsistencies give weight to the opinion for discontinuation of Comcare Fund.Suggestions for Improvement? In order to give fair representation to all target groups, at overall scheme level ceilinglimit percentage can be fixed for different segments of beneficiaries by age, vocation,social strata etc.? As regards skill up gradation, few beneficiaries are unable to participate in skilldevelopment courses since these are organized at night when the person was working. Inorder to mitigate this, skill courses can be staggered in different time batches as perconvenience of candidates.? ComCare programme need to be made more time-bound giving plan of action to thebeneficiaries according to which they can come out of financial distress.Conclusion(75 words)Starting with a modest initial capital of $250 million in 2005, the ComCare Fund now stands at$1.70 billion which brings out the fact that it addresses a socio-economic gap and providesassistance to the needy on their path to self-reliance. During this journey of a decade and more,the ComCare Programme has been expanded from time to time and certain new componentsadded to make it more inclusive and result-oriented for the community. **********ReferencesAnnual report for financial year 2014 FUND CARE. (2015). . Retrieved fromhttps://app.msf.gov.sg/Portals/0/Summary/publication/CSSD/MSF%20ComCare%20Annual%20Rep ort%20FY14.pdfFeature. Retrieved October 13, 2016, from http://www.lawgazette.com.sg/2006-8/Aug06-feature3.htmhermes (2016, January 19). Disbursement of ComCare funds: MSF, PA reply. Straits Times. Retrievedfrom http://www.straitstimes.com/forum/letters-in-print/disbursement-of-comcare-funds-msf-pa- replyHUI, K. X., &hermes. (2016, January 19). Training a way out of poverty. Retrieved October 13, 2016, fromhttp://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/training-a-way-out-of-povertyHui, K. X., &hermes (2016, January 19). Quarter of those getting ComCare funds are employed. .Retrieved from http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/quarter-of-those-getting-comcare-funds- are-employedUnemployment rises among Singapore citizens, residents in Q2. (2016). Retrieved October 13, 2016,from http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/unemployment-rises- among/2993284.html "