Thai Niyom local needs plan kicks off
The first phase of the government’s Thai Niyom Yangyuen development programme to gauge people’s needs for local development kicks off tomorrow, army commander-in-chief Gen Chalermchai Sitthisad said yesterday.
To turn the programme — loosely translated as “sustainable Thai-style development” — into action, it was reported earlier that the government planned to send 7,800 teams around the country to learn what is needed to solve their problems.
Gen Chalermchai said yesterday the process of sounding people out will officially begin tomorrow.
He said the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) will provide logistical support in the first phase. He has instructed the command to select qualified people to listen to the needs of locals and impart information about the programme to them.
The officials must have detailed knowledge about the programme, have the right interpersonal skills and be good listeners. They must report back with input from the people so the government can design development projects in later phases that truly answer their needs.
The programme works in four phases lasting between three to four months and is financed by a budget of around 100 billion baht.
The first phase involves gathering information in 80,000 villages, analysing the problems and working out how to meet their needs.
The second deals with creating public awareness and securing the commitment of related parties in seeing development projects through.
The third and fourth phases, to be implemented between April and the end of May will focus on the people’s participation in various projects and thought adjustment.
Gen Chalernchai said Isoc will assist the Interior Ministry, the core agency behind the information gathering phase.
Meanwhile, Ayutthaya governor, Sujin Chaichumsak, said his provincial office was meeting community representatives across 16 districts of the Central Plains province at a local university to list their needs for tailor-made development projects in economic, social and security areas.