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Subsidised Internet for low income SGeans

Lala81

By Lala81,
in Lite & EZ

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Lala81

Lala81

Hypersonic

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/more-low-income/1385774.html

 

 

SINGAPORE: More low-income households are set to get free computing devices - and subsidised monthly broadband connectivity for the next four years - to help them get access to the internet.

This was announced on Sunday (Sep 28) by Minister for Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim, at the Silver Infocomm Day at ITE College East. Giving the details, Minister Yaacob said the Government has set aside S$10 million for the Digital Inclusion Fund, targeting around 8,000 low-income households.

With the fund, a household that earns less than S$1,900 will be able to get basic computing devices such as a tablet. The household will pay no more than S$6 a month for fibre broadband internet access for the next four years.

According to a survey in 2013 by the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA), 13 per cent of families in Singapore do not have internet access at home. Of these, 9 per cent said it was because they could not afford it.

Dr Yaacob said: "As the use of ICT becomes ever more pervasive, there is a need to raise the level of adoption of infocomm, especially among the low-income households. This will ensure they can benefit and enjoy the improvements and services brought about by new technology."

Apart from households, the fund also extends to Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs) to encourage them to develop social innovation projects using technology. VWOs can come up with up to 10 such projects - capped at S$100,000 each - and get up to a 75 per cent grant for each project.

One of the VWOs, SINDA, is already looking forward to the benefits of such a grant. "The elderly will benefit a lot in terms of the innovative projects that we are going to come up with - their presence at home, their safety, their security - and at the same time to be in tune with the new knowledge," said Sarojini Padmanathan, the COO of SINDA.

Dr Yaacob also announced enhancements to the NEU PC Plus Programme, which targets school-going children and people with disabilities from low-income families. The qualifying income gap will be raised to S$3,000 per household - up from S$2,700.

These new initiatives are meant to bridge the digital divide among Singaporeans, said Dr Yaacob. According to a survey by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore in 2013, 13 per cent of resident households don't have internet access. Of these, 9 per cent said they could not afford having internet access at home.

Dr Yaacob said these initiatives would empower Singaporeans through a greater exposure to IT. "Collaborations among the government, institutes of higher learning, VWOs and the public will be crucial to ensuring that every segment of society can eventually become more digitally savvy," he said.

- AFP/rw/ac

 

I think personally this is a good policy to help low income especially in this day & age. Especially for the children.

Wonder what the naysayer comments will be... lol.

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RadX

RadX

Moderator

yeah sure got peepur say thing, like

 

'knn i pay tax, why i no get free oso...i go see MP'

 

good move by the govt to bring the game to at least grant access and level the field in ICT

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Lala81

Lala81

Hypersonic
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Should not be free.

Free things pple will not treasure

 

this post deserves 100 points [thumbsup][thumbsup][thumbsup]

Hope they make good use, and not use it for gambling and prawning.

 

erm think prawning is a given lah. lol.

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Raymondism

Raymondism

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this post deserves 100 points [thumbsup][thumbsup][thumbsup]

 

Its true.. free things sure get abused

 

Co-payment is always better....

 

I am sure low income families have smokers that can afford $10 on cigarettes...

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Kingkong

Kingkong

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(edited)

Subsidised internet rate for 4 years. So remember to vote for 'you-know-who' for another 4 years yar.

 

Anyway, the part on providing free computing devices is truly great.

 

Imagine nowadays most, if not all, schools require the kids to do their studies/home work on various platforms.

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Ktglfc

Ktglfc

Hypersonic

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/more-low-income/1385774.html

 

 

I think personally this is a good policy to help low income especially in this day & age. Especially for the children.

Wonder what the naysayer comments will be... lol.

I fully applause and support this move by garmen :)

It's time low income families can also get a piece of the latest tech :))

 

$6 a month should be just nice for them, so it's really not that "free".

Now, the next step is to teach these ppl, some old folks, some illiterate ppl, some young kids, etc how to use and maximize the technology :))

 

It's always good to bring up the level of our fellow Singaporeans, esp the less forunate ones :))

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ins1dious

ins1dious

Turbocharged

Subsidised internet rate for 4 years. So remember to vote for 'you-know-who' for another 4 years yar.

 

Anyway, the part on providing free computing devices is truly great.

 

Imagine nowadays most, if not all, schools require the kids to do their studies/home work on various platforms.

 

why so cynical huh?

 

Sometimes I pity them... damned if you, damned if you don't

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Kingkong

Kingkong

5th Gear

Scarely father abuse children computer go online betting.. how to protect them??? [dizzy]

Then another department got to step in lor.

 

why so cynical huh?

 

Sometimes I pity them... damned if you, damned if you don't

Just the facts of life. No free lunch, and no need to damn here and there.

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