March 11, 2014, at 1000hrs at the Royal Police Cadet Academy, Sam Phran District, Nakhon Pathom, Prime Minister and Defense Minister Yingluck Shinawatra presided over the Cabinet’s meeting. Gist is as follows:
Title: Report on Thai Elderly Situation 2012 (B.E. 2555)
The Cabinet acknowledged National Committee on the Elderly’s report on Thai elderly situation for the year 2012 (B.E. 2555) as proposed by Ministry of Social Development and Human Security.
Gist
1. Policy recommendation
Improvement of quality of life among older persons is important to national development and security. Following are immediate issues that could be implemented in a short run.
1.1 Immediate implementation of National Saving Fund Act B.E. 2554. In order to strengthen economic security among the older persons, money savings should be encouraged. There has been an attempt to implement National Saving Funds, partly subsidized by the Government, to promote money savings of the older persons. This will also prepare Thai society for the transition into ageing society. The Government should, therefore, implement the National Saving Funds the soonest possible.
1.2 Promotion of the Local Administration’s active participation in elderly-related affairs. Implementation of elderly-related work has, so far, been slow and sporadic. An important mechanism for faster mobilization of the work is to promote and encourage Local Administrations to take part in systematic capacity development and protection of older persons in their respective community as they have legal responsibilities and budget for such implementations.
2. Demographical Changes and Important Strategic Information Regarding the Elderly
Based on the forecast on Thai population during B.E. 2553-2583, demographic proportion of childhood and working age populations tend to decrease, while elderly age continuously increases from 13.2 per cent in 2010 to 32.1 per cent in 2040. In 2017, proportion of senior citizens at the later stage is likely to increase from 12.7 per cent of total elderly population to about one-fifth of total elderly population. Information on health problems among older persons in 2011 are as follows: visual impairment problem at 47.4 per cent, which was a slight increase from 2007, and hearing impairment problem around 15 per cent. Demographic survey of elderly population for B.E. 2550 and 2554 reveals that the number of single older persons and older persons living alone tends to increase. One-third of the total number of Thai older persons are still working and contributing to the economy. Older persons’ three major sources of income are from their offspring, work, and elderly’s living allowance.
3. Successes and Challenges in the implementation of elderly-related works
Based on the follow-up and evaluation of the Second National Elderly Plan 2002-2021 (B.E. 2545-2564), second phase 2007-2011 (B.E. 2550-2554), which is the master strategic plan for implementation of elderly-related works, the overall implementation at a national level is averagely low. Thailand still needs to mobilize according to the Plan in order to accommodate the coming of aging society. Qualitative research indicates that impeding factors to the implementation of works are discontinuity of policies, concrete implementation of the Plan, and insufficient budget. Elderly associations are not seriously committed, and there are limitations to the Local Administrations, especially in human resources, related knowledge, and regulations for budget disbursement.
Following suggestion from Ministry of Education, the Cabinet approved establishment of Princess Maha Chakri Award Foundation.
Gist
1. In the 2nd meeting of International Education Assembly of Thailand during October 5-7, 2006 to commemorate World’s Teacher Day, and the Sixtieth Anniversary Celebrations of His Majesty's Accession to the Throne, endorsement on the establishment of “Princess Maha Chakri Award” was made to celebrate H.R.H Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s intelligence in education, and to acknowledge teachers and educational personnel who have great contribution to education at an international level.
2. In light of this, H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn's Personal Affairs Division, Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary, notified Minister of Education that Her Royal Highness conferred the name “Princess Maha Chakri Award” as an international award, and set up of an award foundation of the same name. Teachers Council of Thailand (Khurusapha) is to be the agency in charge with members of the foundation committee coming from Ministry of Education, UNESCO, Business Organization of the Office of the Welfare Promotion Commission for Teachers and Education Personnel (BOWT), education associations, and education experts. Selection of awardees is to be made by the committee, and the awarding ceremony will be held on World’s Teacher Day, which should start from the year 2007 onward or when the foundation is all set.
Following suggestion from Ministry of Education, the Cabinet approved the appointment of Mrs. Pornpun Waitayangkoon as Director of Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology (IPST), in accordance with Article 21, Section 1 of Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology Act B.E. 2541.
Following suggestion from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Cabinet,
1. Agreed with Draft Hague Nuclear Security Summit Communique, which will be the resolution of the Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) to be held in Hague on March 24-25, 2014.
2. Approved for Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs as a special envoy of the Prime Minister to join in the adoption of the Draft Communique.
3. Should necessity arise to amend the aforementioned document in inessential parts that will not affect the country’s benefits, Ministry of Foreign Affairs may proceed without request for Cabinet’s further consideration.
Gist: The Draft Communique is merely an expression of political intent among the Summit’s participants. The meeting will adopt Draft Hague Nuclear Security Summit Communique without signing.
--Cabinet Meeting (Yingluck Shinawatra) March 11, 2014--