Singapore
Singapore Launches Indian Engagement and Development Initiative to Strengthen Community Identity: The Singapore government has announced the formation of a new committee aimed at strengthening the identity of the Indian community and supporting its long-term development. The initiative, called the Indian Engagement and Development Initiative (INEI), will work over the next five years to connect community organisations, promote youth leadership, and support social upliftment within the Singapore-Indian community.
The announcement was made during parliamentary discussions by Dinesh Vasu Dash, Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth. The new committee will be jointly chaired by Dash and Murali Pillai, Senior Minister of State for Transport and Law. Both leaders are of Indian origin and will work alongside representatives from community organisations and emerging youth leaders.
According to Singapore’s Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY), the committee aims to build stronger networks among Indian organisations and improve coordination across groups already working to support the community.
“This will be a committee by the community, and for the community,” said Dash. “Its aim is to build strong networks across the Indian community, bringing together partners who are already doing good work on the ground.”
Extensive Community Consultations
The INEI initiative follows months of consultations with community stakeholders. Since August 2025, the government has held engagement sessions with more than 150 Singapore-Indian organisations and over 240 youth leaders aged 35 and below.
These discussions helped policymakers better understand the aspirations, challenges, and expectations of the community and shaped the framework of the new initiative.
The idea for such a committee was first proposed by K. Shanmugam, Singapore’s Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs, who suggested creating a platform that could help Indian organisations address challenges faced by the community while strengthening integration within Singapore’s broader society.
Annual Forum to Encourage Dialogue
As part of the initiative, an annual INEI Forum will be launched to encourage dialogue, collaboration, and idea-sharing among community members, organisations, and youth leaders.
Dash said the first dialogue session under the forum is expected to take place next month, providing a platform for participants to discuss ways to strengthen community identity and develop future leaders.
Funding for Multicultural Arts
Alongside the INEI announcement, the government also introduced new measures to support multicultural arts. Baey Yam Keng, Minister of State at MCCY, said a Multicultural Arts Programme Grant will be launched with funding of SGD 20 million over the next five years.
The grant will support artists and organisations working on traditional art forms as well as those experimenting with multicultural or cross-cultural creative projects. It will also help practitioners develop skills beyond their own cultural traditions and encourage collaboration across communities.
Concerns Over Declining Interest in Traditional Arts
During parliamentary discussions, David Neo, Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, raised concerns about declining interest among young people in traditional arts.
“When I speak with practitioners from our arts and culture groups, they tell me they are starting to notice declining interest among the young to engage in traditional arts,” Neo said.
He noted that some young people are increasingly choosing contemporary entertainment, including global pop culture influences such as K-pop, over traditional activities.
“While I understand the allure of K-pop and K-drama, we also need to retain our diverse traditional art forms and culture that form the foundation of our multicultural identity,” he added.
Schools to Introduce Ethnic Fusion Dance Programme
To address this issue, the National Arts Council, with support from the Ministry of Education, will introduce an Ethnic Fusion Dance Programme in secondary schools.
The programme, scheduled to run from March 2026 to August 2027, will encourage students to explore different cultural dance traditions and experiment with blending styles from various ethnic communities.
Multiculturalism in Practice
Singapore’s multicultural identity is often reflected in community events. A recent example took place during a Chinese New Year celebration at the Sri Vairavimada Kaliamman Temple in the Toa Payoh housing estate.
During the event, lion dance performers entered the temple accompanied by traditional drums and cymbals before performing in front of the deities. A ceremonial abhishekam was later conducted for the statue of Bhagwan Murugan, and a performer dressed as Caishen, the Chinese God of Wealth, distributed sweets to children.
The celebration was organised jointly by the temple, the Lian Shan Shuang Lin Buddhist Monastery, the Toa Payoh East Community Club’s Indian Activity Executive Committee, and the Harmony Circle—demonstrating how different cultural groups collaborate in Singapore.
Strengthening a Shared National Identity
Singapore, a nation of about six million people, is home to a diverse population. Chinese make up roughly 75 per cent of the population, Malays about 15 per cent, and Indians over seven per cent, with the remainder coming from other ethnic backgrounds.
For decades, the government has promoted multiculturalism as a core part of the country’s national identity. After more than 60 years of nationhood, initiatives such as the INEI committee and new multicultural arts programmes aim to reinforce cultural heritage while strengthening social cohesion in one of Asia’s most diverse societies.
