Speech by Mr Tharman Shamugaratnam

Mr S Iswaran, Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry
Mr R Ravindran, Adviser to Narpani Pearavai
Mr Tan Boon Huat, Chief Executive Director, People’s Association
Grassroots Leaders
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

Introduction
(Opening remarks in Tamil)

1. It gives me great pleasure to attend tonight’s function with all of you.  First of all, let me wish all Indian Hindus a happy Deepavali and Indian Muslims, Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

2. I would like to start by commending the People’s Association (PA) Indian Activity Executive Committees (IAECs) Co-ordinating Council or Narpani Pearavai for hosting the first appreciation dinner for all the IAECs in Singapore.  I also commend Narpani Pearavai and the IAECs for their contributions to community development in Singapore.

3. The first Indian Cultural Group, the predecessor of the IAECs , was set up in 1977.  Over three decades, the IAEC has evolved into a key vehicle for reaching out to the Indian community at the constituency level and organizing activities of interest to Indians.  Currently, there are 91 IAECs with more than 1,350 members island-wide.

Narpani Pearavai for IAECs

4. Narpani Pearavai was formed in 1987 as a central body to co-ordinate and support the growing number of the IAECs.  I commend the Narpani Pearavai for doing a great job in supporting and assisting the IAECs.  I understand that over the last two years, under the chairmanship of Mr Thirunal Karasu, Narpani Pearavai has stepped up its efforts to engage the Indian community.  With support from the IAECs, Narpani Pearavai has been able to raise its profile in carrying out several community projects.  Narpani Pearavai is well known in the Indian community now.

5. For instance, Narpani Pearavai has worked closely with the IAECs to organise national and district projects.  It spearheaded the Indian community’s Congratulatory Dinner to honour and welcome Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in 2005.  The event was attended by about 5,000 people.  Narpani Pearavai and the IAECs also organize five district projects annually.  For the last 2 years, the district projects organised include Sorsilambam, Sorkalam, Pulau Ubin Nature Walk and Fun Bike Hike, IAEC Sports Spectra and IAEC Family Day.  These projects received tremendous support from the Indian community.

6. I am pleased to announce that Narpani Pearavai will be donating $172,000 to Singapore Indian Education Trust (SIET) to set up a Study Loan Fund for deserving and needy students who are Singapore citizens.  This educational fund is an excellent and timely initiative.  It is in line with the many helping hands approach towards ensuring social cohesion that was outlined in President Nathan’s Address at the Opening of Parliament 2 days ago.

Moving towards a More Inclusive Approach

7. The IAECs have been able to mobilize the Indian community to support their programmes and activities.  Narpani Pearavai and the IAECs can also do much to strengthen the bonds within the larger community of Singaporeans which Indians belong to.  Since January 2006, they have organized or jointly organized more than 2,500 projects and activities with other grassroots organizations (GROs), attracting widespread participation.

8. We should continue this work, and move towards an inclusive approach towards all of Singapore’s ethnic communities.  Mutual trust, confidence and friendships among the different ethnic and religious communities are crucial for our society.  They are what make us Singaporeans.  And they will help us weather threats to our cohesion, as well as the challenges of the global economy.

9. We should continue to develop better and more creative outreach programmes for this purpose.  I therefore urge Narpani Pearavai and the IAECs to continue to work together with the other GROs to reach out to all Indians, as well as more non-Indians and the community at large in organizing their programmes.

Updates on the TLLPC

10. I would like to take this opportunity also to thank Narpani Pearavai and the IAECs for supporting the teaching and learning of Tamil in our schools.  Narpani is a key member of the Tamil Language Learning and Promotion Community (TLLPC) which was formed in February this year and is chaired by MOS Iswaran.  One of the Committee’s key tasks is to help MOE to collaborate with community organisations and garner their support in organising activities to support the learning and use of the Tamil language among our students.  The TLLPC has progressed well in its work.  Let me share some several initiatives put in motion by the TLLPC Working Groups.

11. The Working Group on the promotion of Spoken Tamil has initiated a Drama programme for Primary schools.  A total of 60 pupils from 3 primary schools have so far been involved in the programme, since it began in August this year.

12. A speech craft programme (Toastmasters Club) is in the pipeline for secondary schools.  The programme is being worked out to develop confident Tamil language speakers.  A group of secondary school students would be trained next year as a pilot project.

13. A new children’s programme “Siruvar Nehram” and a chat programme with youths are being aired on Oli 96.8 to promote the use of Tamil.  These programmes are aimed at developing students’ confidence in the use of Spoken Tamil.

14. To develop an interest for reading among pre-school and primary school pupils, Reading programmes and Resources Working Group Reading Clubs have been set up in 11 Community Clubs since 2 September this year.  A total of 14 Reading Centres at suitable locations will be launched next year.

15. A structured programme will be drawn up to run Tamil reading activities and relevant training will be provided to parent volunteers.  The Seminar on Reading for Parents will be launched in January 2007.  Besides all these programmes, the Working Group has also compiled a bibliography of children Tamil books for 2 to 9-year-olds.  This list will be uploaded in the National Library Board website for easy reference by the general public as they visit the libraries.

16. The Overseas Study Trips and Immersion Programmes Working Group has organised an immersion programme entitled “Oli Vaanil Illaya Nila” which is aired on Oli 96.8 on Saturdays between 6 and 7pm.  The programme gives opportunities for secondary and junior college students to showcase their talent as radio DJs.  It also enables them to gain firt-hand experience in the production and presentation of radio programmes in Spoken Tamil.  The Working Group is tying up with Bluerivers Pictures to work out an attachment programme for our students in basic scriptwriting.  The group is also in the process of drawing up a prototype programme for overseas immersion programme for our students.

17. As you can see, to keep the Tamil language alive and relevant to our young, there needs to be a concerted effort by schools, families, the industry and the rest of the community.  Hand-in-hand, the Tamil language can continue to be used in our rich multicultural context.

Conclusion