On March 29th, 2000, Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai presided over the Permanent Secretary Meeting No. 3/2000 at the Dej Sanitwongse Conference Room, Office of the NESDB. In his speech regarding formulation of the Ninth Economic and Social Development Plan, the Prime Minister requested the NESDB to take great consideration in real situation in order that the 9th Plan will be translated into action fruitfully, In so doing, indeas and informations must be gathered widely among the people's representatives. Regarding social quality, the people in society must take responsibility. Stressing only on efficiency without taking responsibility will cause problems.
On this occasion, Mr. Sansern Wongcha-um, NESDB's Secretary-General provided a briefing concerning the 9th Plan formulation progress stating that the NESDB's roles are focused on technical strengthening and high quality data system development at the macro level as well as upgrading development plan and project analysis and monitoring development dissemination.
Secretary-General reported on results of the brainstorming seminars on "People Development Vision and Guideline during the Ninth National Economical and social Development Plan (2002-2006) at the Regional Level" during March 6-19, 2000 in 10 provinces; namely, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Phuket, Phetchaburi, Khon Kaen, Surat Thani, Chiang Mai, Pattani, Chon Buri, Nakhon Ratchasima and Phitsanulok. These seminars' results were utilized as sources for discussion in the regional seminars. And 8 representatives from each province were chosen to participate in their regional seminars in which participants were from government agencies, local administration agencies, private sector, agricultural sector, monks and private organizations. All these seminars were attended by participants who actively participated in dicussion through the brainstorming processes.
These participants unanimously agreed on development vision for better Thai society in 3 areas' namely.
1. Development for "quality society" : The people must be good and efficient with self-reliance and capacity to adjust to the changing circumstances, be able to develop for good quality of life though standard quality of infrastructure, and promote economic development in line with the potential and readiness of capital under sufficiency economy.
2. Development for wisdom society : The people must have "lifelong commitment to the learning processes" regarding modern technology and conservation of culture, religion and local wisdom.
3. Development for harmonious society through the promotion of national culture indentity, generosity and helpfulness especially to underprivileged group of society and strengthening self-reliance community.
Secretary-General further stated that the seminars also provided recommendations regarding translation of the Plan into action and monitoring and evaluation processes. The national budget system must be adapted to budget system stressing on production and result instead of resource utilization. The resources must be directly allocated to community for self management in line with its potential and readiness. Monetary, financial and personnel management authority must be distributed from central to regional areas. Moreover, participations must be supported in every group, especially civil society must take full participation in formulating the Action Plan in community, district and provincial levels under the development vision and guidelines from the provincial and regional seminars. Regarding monitoring and evaluation, public sector and social community will take responsibility in creating indicator through the full participation of all stake-holders.
Mr. Sansern Wongcha-um finally said that the brainstorming seminar results have encouraged enthusiasm among all groups of people to continuously participate in voicing their demands. These participation processes helped promote continuous driving forces of people to take their roles in formulating the plan at community, district and provincial levels and in translating the plan into action under the vision framewords of these brainstorming seminars and in monitoring the plan implementation outcomes. End.
Development News Bulletin, National Economic and Social Development Board, Volume 15, No. 4 : April 2000
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