Mrs Fozdar's contributions to women's causes have been decisive in helping to uplift the status and welfare of women in our society. Her life has been, and continues to be, an inspiration to many. It is therefore appropriate that on this, the 50th anniversary of Mrs Fozdar's arrival in Singapore, we should commemorate the contributions of women in community building, and at the same time, take this occasion to galvanise community support for social service agencies that are helping families in distress. We must strengthen the family institution as this is the key foundation for any society. I am gratified to note that the Marine Parade CDC has identified this as one of its priorities and has given its strong support towards the cause of helping families in distress.
Financial deprivation is usually a symptom of deeper underlying problems in the family.
Solving these problems require more than just providing financial assistance. Often, the State and the bureaucracy are not in the best position to help and intervene in such matters involving the family. This is why the existing principle of Many Helping Hands must be preserved and strengthened. The CDC is a new, and still evolving, model of local governance in Singapore. By supporting and closely collaborating with social service agencies, the CDC has the potential to develop an effective, community-based, social safety net that can be tailored to meet the needs of its residents.