SINGAPORE : Ten million dollars more will be pumped into the upcoming Budget to help the needy.

Making the announcement was Community Development, Youth and Sports Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan at the launch of the NorthWest Comcare Local Networks.

This means that $70 million will go towards helping the needy, up from $60 million last year.

Dr Balakrishnan said this is necessary, as more Singaporeans have been coming forward for assistance in the past few years.

He added that his ministry is also trying to help families send their children to school and help workers in retraining, so that no one is left behind.

The money will be disbursed through the networks, which bring together 45 voluntary welfare organisations, various CDCs, and grassroots organisations to coordinate help schemes for the needy.

Anyone in need can just contact any of these organisations, instead of going to different aid agencies separately.

An online forum has also been set up to facilitate the coordination of help schemes among the agencies.

"Anyone who is needy, anyone who requires financial help, and I don't mean just financial help, I mean every single child should go to pre-school and attend school. The focus on children especially, because that's the best way to break out of the poverty trap," said Dr Balakrishnan.

"As far as adults are concerned, get jobs, get training and re-training so that they will be able to get jobs or better jobs. This is the only sustainable way so that people will be able to stand on their own." - CNA /ls