Vol. 20 No. 01 : January ISSN 1685-2869
The Cabinet Approved to Extend the Operation Periods of Economic Boosting Budget until March 2003 and of New 5 Projects
n December 17, 2002, the Cabinet approved of the extended operation periods of projects funded by reserves for economic boosting budget. Such projects were he National Economic and Social Development Board has hired the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) to conduct a study on small water sources management. It was found that small water sources development could better local people’s economy and their quality of life while their management was inefficient. The TDRI also provided suggestions in terms of policy and operation. The NESDB has handed in the suggestions to the Deputy Prime Minister. Mr. Chakramon Phasukavanich, Secretary-General of NESDB said that the NESDB hired the TDRI to carry out a study on small water sources management and one of the results was that the management of small water sources was inefficient owing
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supposed to be finished by the end of 2002. With the Cabinetûs approval, they can be carried out until March 2003 instead. The Cabinet, in addition, granted 7,804.73 million baht taken from the same reserves to another 5 projects. Mr. Chakramon Phasukavanich, Secretary-General of NESDB, revealed that the Cabinet considered the 2002 expenses proposed by the Screening Committee for emergency projects to boost the economy. The cabinet decided to the fact that 18 units under 7 ministries supervised their management. Accordingly documentation on the sources was not of the same standard. Their information was incomplete, out-of-date and unsystematic. In addition, the small water sources development was undertaken by the government without the local people’s participation. The criteria for selecting an area to be included in the project were not clearly specified; therefore, the water sources were not evenly distributed. The projects overlapped with one another and the budget allocation was not in line with the local needs. Furthermore, tools used for managing small water sources, such as related laws, were redundant and obsolete. In the meantime the Natural Resources Act was still under
see page 4
Results of Study on Small Water Sources Management
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to extend the operation periods to March 2003 in line with the fact that the Ministry of Finance allowed bureaucratic and state enterprise sectors to set aside the economic boosting budget to be used until March 2003. Furthermore, the essence of the approved projects under the National Program could not changed or adapted so that their expenses can be kept as planned and the project heads have to hand in the leftover money to the Comptroller General Department According to the SecretaryGeneral, another 5 projects subsidized by the 2003 reserves for boosting the economy have also been approved. The new 5 projects totaling 7,804.73 million baht are the Project for Improving Hygiene of Fish Piers, the Department of Fisheries, and the Project for Providing Housing for Policemen, the Bureau of National Police. Also, there were the Project for Recruiting Workforce to Expedite Juridical Operation and the Project for Rehabilitating Drug Addicts Under the Required Treatment System, the Ministry of Justice, and the Project for Educational Reform. The projects, endorsed by the Screening Committee on November 13, 2002, were subsidized by the 2002 budget totaling 13,148.04 million baht set aside for reimbursement in 2003. As a result, the total
see page 4
Guidelines for Carrying Out Proactive Measures by the 5th Screening Committee
NESDB Suggests Ways to Improve One Village - One Product
Project to Increase Thailandûs Competitive Edge
monitoring the funds. 2. Development of new products to meet the needs of the market The products should highlight indigenous knowledge, local materials and local craftsmanship. Bench marking of the product should be established through evaluating the potentials of rural development coupled with an analysis of production process. The government should decrease value added tax on these products to help agriculturists sell more products without being underpriced. Product packaging reflecting the local spirit and the indigenous knowledge must be developed. Furthermore, such packaging must be practical for domestic and international transportation. 3. Factors affecting agriculturistsû success and knowledge transfer for further development. The factors involve strengthened institutions, quality products, marketing potentials and well - managed marketing. Ms. Wilaiporn added that some major weak points of the project may result from the agriculturists’ adapted way of thinking - manufacturing products for commercial purpose instead of for household use. In addition, depending on raw materials outside the community results in a high production cost. Supporting a small production group or a newly-established production group poses more problems than supporting a well established production group.
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Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, Assistant Secretary-General of NESDB disclosed that the 5th Screening Committee, in change of screening economic matters to be proposed to the Cabinet, has mapped out guidelines for carrying out 10 proactive measures to quickly revive the country’s economy. He said that the 10 measures covered 1. macro-economy to specifically boost domestic economy when the external economy is unstable. 2. treasury including the operation of the Thai Assets Management Corporation and the improvement on the expenses of the government and of the state enterprises. 3. finance including the promotion of the efficiency and the stability of financial institutions, the efficiency of loan provision and the stability of financial system lending itself to the expansion of the manufacturing sector 4. international economy and economic cooperations among neighboring countries 5. strengthening of foreign sector especially earnings from exporting products and services and monitoring imports. 6. stretch of the competitiveness of the industry and promotion of domestic investment 7. provision of support for small-sized and medium-sized enterprises and new entrepreneurs 8. follow-up and analysis of major produceûs situations such as rice, sugar and rubber 9. national energy policy including energy development, energy conservation and suitable energy pricing and 10. conversion of assets to capital to provide the majority with an opportunity to gain access to financial sources.
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Wilaiporn Liwgasemsan, NESDB Senior Advisor in Policy and Plan said that the NESDB held a seminar on çOpportunities for Agriculturists to Succeed in the One Village - One Product Project : A Case Study : the Central Plainsé at the Felix River Khwai Hotel, Muang District, Kanchanaburi Province. The participants were from 20 communities which had succeeded in processing produce, and related government officials. They came to exchange ideas to map out ways and means of carrying out the project in line with the agriculturists’ needs. This seminar was a pilot project. A similar project will be held in other regions as well. Points made at the seminar were as follows: 1. Guidelines for providing support and cooperation from responsible agencies The government must promote indigenous knowledge and improve products. The bureaucratic red tape must be reduced to encourage joint development of products and their marketing. Funds for developing products must be set up at provincial level and there should be an agency
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Ms .
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He remarked that Dr. Prommin Lertsuridej, Chairman of the Screening Committee, stressed that important economic issues were efficient to increase economic potentials, assistance
to SMEs, investment promotion, continuous monitoring of monetary situations, conversion of assets to capital and development of economic infrastructure. To achieve those goals, proactive mea-
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Good Family Good Life : A Factor for the Thaiûs Well Being (1)
amily is a very fundamental institute and the smallest economic unit of the society. It provides its members with care, love and support. It can be said that family affects its members’ personality and their way of life, resulting in quality of society. The well being of the family is a target for development in Thai society since family plays an important role in offering its qualified members to the community and to the country. Up to now, there is no known agency responsible for developing family issues systematically, that is, there are no indicators to evaluate the results of family development tangibly. Therefore, the NESDB and the National Institute for Children and Family Development, Mahidol University jointly studied this matter to determine the final impact of the development on the people as a whole. According to the 8th and the 9th National Economic and Social Development Plans, family and community must be strengthened, resulting in the well-being of the Thai people. This is in line with what is stipulated in section 5, article 80 of the 1997 Constitution. It says that the government must protect and develop children and youth, promote equa-
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lity among women and men, and strengthen and develop family and community. The objectives of the study were to define the framework of the familyûs well-being so that related agencies can use this as a base to work out related projects and to determine indicators measuring the family’s well-being.. These indicators must reflect the reality of Thai families and they will be used to assess families in the pilot area. The results of the study can be developed into a network of common indicators used by related agencies to assess the well-being and to map out plans and policies for improving the well-being of the family. According to the study, the framework of the family’ s well-being including the development of the desired family is as follows: A Happy family means a desired family resulting from an integration of people with various lifestyles. They share their goals in life, perform their duties, have a good relationship with one another and can depend on themselves. Moreover, they can adapt themselves to the changing world and can contribute to society. A Warm family means the situation where at least 2 people live together sharing love and care, respon-
sibilities and helping each other solve problems. There are 5 main factors affecting the family’s well-being. 1. The family structure means a structure in which various types of people live together to create a family. 2. The family role means family members taking care of one another’s physical and mental needs. It aims to develop well-educated social members and to be a place for passing on knowledge and culture. 3. Family relationship means interaction with family members through love, respect and care. It can be evaluated by behavior, communication, participation in discussion and decision making, and activities leading to happy family. 4. Self - reliance means familyû survival skills. Family members have enough income to make ends meet and no debts. However, if they do, such debts should be so much that they cannot lead a happy life. 5. Social contribution means family membersûs participation in creative activities. They help the society by not causing trouble or social problems.
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This article is divided into 2 parts. The second part will be in the next issue.
Guidelines for Carrying from page 2
sures must be carried out and such measures must not be based on any particular theory. The Committee can choose any economic issue for consideration and design strategies to meet the needs at both micro and macro levels.
He said that the Board submitted 2 proposals to the Committee for consideration. They were (1) venture capital of which the cabineûs resolution was to include SMEs into the plan and (2) problems about and suggestions on non-performing loans. The resolution was that each case must be considered
individually without bias and the procedure for solving problems of each case can be cross - checked. Cooperation with the Ministry of Justice must be set up to remain informed of the progress of juridical measures related to the cases as well as of problems which should be dealt with. ✦✦
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For Official Use of Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board
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(Miss Sunaree Tipian) Chief of General Coordination and Management
If not delivered, please return to the Development Evaluation and Communication Office Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board, 962 Krung Kasem Road, Bangkok 10100 Results of Study from page 1 The study suggested that problems The Cabinet Approved from page 1 could be dealt with at 2 levels: policy consideration. He added that the study revealed and operation. Regarding policy, the balance of the mid -2003 budget was that small water sources cared by criteria for providing clean water sources 5,343.31 million baht. The Secretary-General added that local people, such as rural tap water must be based on those specified by the reserves for boosting the economy, project and personal well, helped the WHO. Guidelines for developing improve their quality of life including water sources with minimum impacts totaling 58,000 million baht, 36,388.16 their economic status. More households on environment must be set up. The million baht of which was approved by were provided with clean drinking results of the task transferred to the the Cabinet on August 13, 2002. After water all year round. Public water local authorities must be followed up that 3,463.80 million baht was approved sources could not provide the local and evaluated and the subcommittee to be used for an additional 4 projects. people with clean drinking water must be set up to settle conflicts over On November 5, 2002 the Cabinet dethroughout the year since they were water and to discuss water management. cided to transfer the common budget As for operation, 3 things must be done. for economic boosting reserves to the not well - maintained. In terms of decentralization, the They are management under decentra- common reserves for emergency use in number of tasks to be transferred to lization, support from the central the 2003 budget, totaling 5,000 million local authorities were more than that government offices and the development baht. Consequently, the amount of reof personnel who lacked expertise and of information technology system. serves set aside for the 2003 use was working mechanism. Additionally, The Secretary-General said that 13,148.04 million baht. The reimburselocal authorities did not want to the NESDB has reviewed the study ment of these reserves until September accept those tasks because they were results and submitted the results 30, 2002 was at 21,349.67 million baht not workable. Since budget was including its comments to Dr. Prommin out of the approved amount of 36,688.16 provided, local authorities lacked Lertsuridej, Deputy Prime Minister, to million baht accounting for 58.19 % motivation to earn income from other be considered prior to the Cabinet’s sources. consideration. ✦✦ ✦✦
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Development New Bulletin is a monthly review published by Development Evaluation and Communication Office Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board 962 Krung Kasem Road, Bangkok 10100 Tel. 0-2282-4841-2 Facsimile : 0-2281-6635, 0-2282-2559 Internet : http://www.nesdb.go.th e-mail address : dsid@nesdb.go.th