RESIDENTS asking for aid in the central district have soared by 40 per cent this year - the sharpest surge seen among the five community development councils (CDCs) that cover the island.

Every month, the Central Singapore CDC has been handling over 1,100 new cases, said Mayor Zainudin Nordin on Sunday in an update on the situation.

Most cases involve residents who lost their jobs during the downturn or who have family problems, he noted in his address at an appointment ceremony for the district's 88 councillors.

The new councillors were later presented with certificates of appointment by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who is also the CDC's adviser.

One in three of its 907,000 residents is above 50 - a demographic profile that is expected to become the national norm only in 2030.

However, the need for aid has apparently decreased marginally in the past three months, with a 9 per cent dip in the number of cases lodged.

In the meantime, Mr Zainudin has set his councillors three tasks whose successful completion will help ensure that no resident in need falls through the cracks.

One is to help out-of-work residents find and keep jobs. A new Employability Taskforce has been set up to find ways to help retrenched white-collar workers and those who cannot hold down a job.

The second task set for councillors is to develop more programmes for the elderly that will keep them active and ensure those who are needy will be looked after by voluntary welfare groups.

The third initiative focuses on being more responsive to residents' needs by ensuring a greater number of needy cases are directed to family service centres.

Read the full story in Monday's edition of The Straits Times.

sueann@sph.com.sg