Prime Minister Banharn Silpa-archa, on August 8, presided over the fourth meeting of 1996 of the Prosperity Decentralization Policy Committee (PDPC) at Government House. Approval was granted to three major issues, namely:
1.The Meeting agreed with the establishment of the Community Organization Development Corporation so as to enhance the development and expansion of community organizations and financial organizations of low- income earners in rural and urban areas, including the poverty-stricken target groups. These will enhance sound management for occupational development, income increase, and the development of living conditions of the people. The learning process and administration of community organizations will be upgraded so that they can make wise decision to alleviate their own problems and improve the development of their respective communities. These community organizations will be encouraged to set up financial institutions to be run by themselves.
The PDPC assigned the Ministry of Finance and other relevant agencies to draft a royal decree to set up and supervise the Community Organization Development Corporation to be submitted for the PDPC consideration. Meanwhile, approval was granted to establish an Ad-Hoc Sub- Committee for the Promotion of the Community Organization Development, under the PDPC system so as to coordinate the establishment of the above corporation. The PDPC Chairman will consider appointing a distinguished specialist to head the ad-hoc sub-committee. with members representing the Department of Community Development, the Ministry of Finance, the Office of the NESDB, the Bank of Thailand. the Government Savings Bank and non- governmental organizations (NGOs). The Ministry of Finance and the NESDB will serve as secretariat to the sub-committee.
2.The PDPC agreed to support the establishment of the Provincial Community to serve as a venue for gathering people's groups and organizations so as to map out the human development guidelines in their communities under the holistic planning approach of the Eighth Plan.
The move towards the provincial community establishment will depend on readiness and public awareness of each province. The Office of the NESDB in assigned to undertake feasibility studies to implement the provincial community development in order to obtain a more explicit guideline for mutual co-operation of all involved parties, based on attitude and public interests of each province. The Ministry of Interior, furthermore, is assigned to inform the provincial authorities all over the country of the operation guidelines of the provincial community development.
3.Approval is granted to review a plan to expedite the provision of clean water with a proper water supply system in harmony with the current situation.
Given the past performance records, it is evident that the set-up of a rural water supply system in 22,893 places has been accomplished, higher than the target set in the Seventh Plan (1992-1996). There are, moreover, of about 4,441 places of the water supply system implemented under the provincial development budget during 1992-1996, thus amounting to 27,334 places altogether, or about 5,460 places a year, well beyond the target of 3,300 places as stated in the Seventh Plan.
In the FY 1997, the government will provide budget assistance for the establishment of the rural water supply system in 7,063 places. Within the fiscal year 1997. the rural water supply system in 42,056 places will be conducted as planned, faster than the earlier schedule for four years. Then, in years ahead, focus will be placed on the quality and efficiency of the rural water supply system so that local people will fully benefit from it.
The PDPC assigned the Office of the NESDB to increase the targets for clean water provision under the rural water supply system to be used as a framework for budget allocation, and for the undertaking of the performing agencies during the Eighth Plan period. To carry out this task, a working group has been set up, with members representing the Bureau of the Budget and other relevant agencies in order work out the target increase for consideration of the PDPC.
--Development News Bulletin, National Economic and Social Development Board, Volume 11, No. 8--
1.The Meeting agreed with the establishment of the Community Organization Development Corporation so as to enhance the development and expansion of community organizations and financial organizations of low- income earners in rural and urban areas, including the poverty-stricken target groups. These will enhance sound management for occupational development, income increase, and the development of living conditions of the people. The learning process and administration of community organizations will be upgraded so that they can make wise decision to alleviate their own problems and improve the development of their respective communities. These community organizations will be encouraged to set up financial institutions to be run by themselves.
The PDPC assigned the Ministry of Finance and other relevant agencies to draft a royal decree to set up and supervise the Community Organization Development Corporation to be submitted for the PDPC consideration. Meanwhile, approval was granted to establish an Ad-Hoc Sub- Committee for the Promotion of the Community Organization Development, under the PDPC system so as to coordinate the establishment of the above corporation. The PDPC Chairman will consider appointing a distinguished specialist to head the ad-hoc sub-committee. with members representing the Department of Community Development, the Ministry of Finance, the Office of the NESDB, the Bank of Thailand. the Government Savings Bank and non- governmental organizations (NGOs). The Ministry of Finance and the NESDB will serve as secretariat to the sub-committee.
2.The PDPC agreed to support the establishment of the Provincial Community to serve as a venue for gathering people's groups and organizations so as to map out the human development guidelines in their communities under the holistic planning approach of the Eighth Plan.
The move towards the provincial community establishment will depend on readiness and public awareness of each province. The Office of the NESDB in assigned to undertake feasibility studies to implement the provincial community development in order to obtain a more explicit guideline for mutual co-operation of all involved parties, based on attitude and public interests of each province. The Ministry of Interior, furthermore, is assigned to inform the provincial authorities all over the country of the operation guidelines of the provincial community development.
3.Approval is granted to review a plan to expedite the provision of clean water with a proper water supply system in harmony with the current situation.
Given the past performance records, it is evident that the set-up of a rural water supply system in 22,893 places has been accomplished, higher than the target set in the Seventh Plan (1992-1996). There are, moreover, of about 4,441 places of the water supply system implemented under the provincial development budget during 1992-1996, thus amounting to 27,334 places altogether, or about 5,460 places a year, well beyond the target of 3,300 places as stated in the Seventh Plan.
In the FY 1997, the government will provide budget assistance for the establishment of the rural water supply system in 7,063 places. Within the fiscal year 1997. the rural water supply system in 42,056 places will be conducted as planned, faster than the earlier schedule for four years. Then, in years ahead, focus will be placed on the quality and efficiency of the rural water supply system so that local people will fully benefit from it.
The PDPC assigned the Office of the NESDB to increase the targets for clean water provision under the rural water supply system to be used as a framework for budget allocation, and for the undertaking of the performing agencies during the Eighth Plan period. To carry out this task, a working group has been set up, with members representing the Bureau of the Budget and other relevant agencies in order work out the target increase for consideration of the PDPC.
--Development News Bulletin, National Economic and Social Development Board, Volume 11, No. 8--