The first Citizens' Consultative Committees (CCCS) were bom in 1965 to fulfill the twin role of providing the communication link between the people and the government and to promote good citizenship among the people of Singapore. Today, there is a CCC in each of the 79 electoral constituencies.

CCCs are voluntary grassroots organisations under the charge of the Ministry of Community Development. Committee members come from all walks of life. They include businessmen, shopkeepers, market operators, technical workers, professionals and civil servants. The main requirement is that they must be actively concerned with the community welfare of the constituents.

The functions and activities of the CCCs are many and varied. Most important is their function as a communication channel between the people and the government. The CCCs help to convey the people's feedback to the Government and to explain national policies to the constituents. They are also involved in referring requests of the residents for services and amenities which will improve the welfare and environment of the constituency. On National Days and other festive occasions, CCCs take the lead in organising celebrations at the constituency level. They also take the lead to promote the various national campaigns among the residents.

Other functions of the CCCs include mobilising support to combat crime and drug abuse, as well as assisting people affected by urban redevelopment programmes.

The CCCs are self-financing organisations. They raise their own funds which are used to provide welfare aid to the needy, relief to victims of calamities, bursaries and scholarships to needy and meritorious students, and to meet the cost of running Senior Citizens' Clubs in the constituencies. The CCCs also help other grassroots organisations to raise funds for the building of or improvement to community centres and other community facilities.

With rapid urbanisation, the need for CCCs to deal with municipal problems has been reduced. The CCCs now emphasise their consultative and coordinating roles. They hold regular dialogues with government ministers and officials as well as the residents in their constituencies and form an effective channel of communication between the government and the people. They also coordinate the efforts of other voluntary grassroots organisations in the implementation of national campaigns and major constituency projects.

The CCCs have been an integral part of nation building in Singapore, working tirelessly to promote good citizenship and providing a link betweer the government and the people. Their role is as relevant today as it was 20 years ago.