It is a fact that the burden of the families in distress is always borne by their poor children.

As a small country with a limited population, the future and prosperity of our country lie in every child, whether born to rich or poor families.

We must begin by providing poor children with three square meals a day, 'a societal investment in their future'.

I would like to suggest that we encourage the populace to 'adopt' a poor child for a period by paying for his daily meals.

Expatriates are especially good and generous in this type of charity, as can be seen by their support of numerous orphanages and charitable homes in neighbouring Asean countries. Some couples even visit the children when on holiday.

One way is to have 'adoptive parents' pay neighbours within the block who are willing to provide the 'adopted' child three home-cooked meals a day.

Besides extra income for these neighbours, it will also encourage them to interact with families in their block.

If no neighbour could provide such a facility, we may think of paying a hawker directly so that the child can eat at his stall.

For transparency, I would like the 'adoption' of a child to provide for his daily meals to come under the ambit of the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports.

Ronald Lee Yew Kee