[One way to solve the low take up rate for ComCare]
I was reading the newspapers on the funds available for ComCare that are widely available and a particular incident came to my mind.

Last year, when the economy started to dive deep, I witnessed a woman in perhaps her mid-50s pushing a cart around my neigbourhood selling dried foodstuff. At first she seemed to be an honest seller of foodstuff urging me to buy a packet to try. Then as I probed further, it seemed that she's the sole breadwinner of the family. Moreover, she told me that she had many children to support.

Then came the all important thought. I was wondering, since she had hardship coping with family expenses and all, I wondered why she didn't seek help.

So I asked: "Auntie, do you know about the various schemes available for low or no income families?" I think she showed some knowledge.

I probed further: "Then have you tried approaching them at Meet-the-People's Session (MPS)? They can help you know."

Then she muttered something about not wanting them to help. That puzzled me further.

MPs have were quick to point out in that families should seek help if they need help. But in this case that I have cited, there's something that's stopping them. So to take this argument a step further, it would be good for friends and neighbours to spot signs of trouble.

If you think or have obvious reasons to confirm that your neighbour or someone in your block has a case of hardship, why not encourage them and tell them that help is at hand. If it was me, I would ask them to go for MPS. Or I may even take them there personally if need be.

in times of hardship, we've got to keep our eyes and ears open and spot such signs. I know some grassroots leaders are doing this. We can pitch in too.