CarnalNation

There are 75,000 singles in Singapore looking for love who can now look forward to new subsidised dating packages available from the Social Development Network (SDN) [formerly known as the Social Development Unit (SDU) and Social Development Services (SDS)].

In short, singles can now receive government money to date. Not free money, mind you, as the Singapore government is careful not to be positioned as a nanny state, rather it is providing subsidies for dating. To kick-start this initiative, a sampler dating package worth over S$500 (US$359) is now being offered by the network and S$50 (US$37) by accredited dating agencies. 

The SDU was formed in 1984 to promote marriages among singles who are college graduates, while the SDS was set up a year later to promote marriages among non-graduates.

Some issues raised by this initiative:

1) Previously, this government-led dating initiative drew flak for being elitist in its approach of segregating the graduates and non-graduates and holding separate activities for them. By merging the long-established SDU and SDS, the widened dating pool should logically increase the chances of graduates and non-graduates getting married.

2) SDU and SDS had gone from organising their own dating activities to decentralising their dating activities through private partners for many years now. SDN will essentially be continuing the work with partners under a merged umbrella. It is unclear just how SDN and subsidised dating packages will remove the stigma of singles resorting to using government services to find a life partner.

3) Such subsidised dating packages will change the playing field. Singles will now pay one-tenth of actual costs to private dating providers. Such hand-holding will only trigger even more passivity, finger-pointing, and lack of ownership for one’s happiness once the package ends. Why pay more or again for another package? Why not just wait for the next payout?

I see this move as creating more complacency and dependency on the government. The government takes care of everything – from cradle to grave – and this includes having fun, dating and making babies. If I am not able to find a life partner, it is not because I haven’t made the effort but the government’s fault - the subsidy was not enough, ran out, or the provider were not well trained enough. Not me. And it’s never my fault.

To collect the remaining 90% from the government, dating providers will undoubtedly be forced to adhere to the checks and balances laid in place by the government. This would include reporting deliverables and matched against measurables. The government is in the position to dictate the kind of and manner of activities bring introduced.

4) Let’s not forget that no subsidy would have been possible without the taxpayers. In a success-driven and goal-oriented nation, SDU and SDS have been surprisingly silent about their work. Just how success couples were matched since 1984? How many babies were born as a result of SDU and SDS’ efforts? What do they have to show for being such a long-running government initiative?

What can we expect in terms of measurables from the new SDN? Singaporeans have and should have a say and voice in all this because tax payers’ money is going into allowing singles to date, and gasp, have fun.

With more questions than answers, let the dating begin.