Locals wary of rural aid scheme !!!

 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Deputy Prime Minister
Somkid Jatusripitak visited the northeastern province of
 Ubon Ratchathani last week to promote their tambon air
programme. (Photos by Chanat Katanyu) 

 

As the government vaunts its "tambon fund" scheme to boost

 the local economy, residents in the Northeast say they back

 the idea but worry about how well it will tackle the ailing

economy in rural areas.
 Many residents say they lack details about the scheme, while

some complain about the tardy response from the government,

particularly budget approvals, leaving them unsure about

 whether several projects would meet the deadline.

Initiated by Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, who

 oversees economic policy, the tambon fund aims at boosting

 the local economy, improving locals' incomes and enhancing

  their quality of life. The government recently allocated 5 million

 baht each to 7,255 tambon, or local administration centres,

 totaling over 36 billion baht.

The money is meant to be spent on activities that help generate

incomes and create job opportunities for farmers and low-income

 earners who may be affected by low farm prices.

While some residents approach the plan with scepticism, Jureerat Natsungneon, a resident from Ban Nong Ree village in Nakhon

 Ratchasima's tambon Sikhiu, said most residents supported the

 scheme because they like the idea behind it.

When they work, such schemes encourage locals to have a say

every step of the way, though the supposed benefits are sometimes

 in doubt, she said. Last September, she attended a meeting held

by the village committee asking locals to voice their concerns

 and propose plans. The meeting agreed on building a walkway

around Ban Nong Ree Reservoir, providing easy access to residents.

 But she questioned how a walkway could stimulate the local

economy -- one of the objectives for the tambon fund laid out

by the government.

Ban Krasaengtai village of Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak district

proposed a plan to improve road infrastructure under the

 government's tambon fund scheme, but the budget has not

 yet been approved.

The budget will be paid to a project contractor who is unlikely

 to be a local person, Ms Jureerat said. "I can't see how it will g

enerate an income to the locals.

" Suchart Soontharin, a resident from the village, learned about

 the tambon fund scheme from the media.

 He urged local authorities overseeing the project to include locals' involvement to ensure residents gain benefits from the project.

Meanwhile, Chalerm Phrakiat deputy district chief Sompong

 Muensan said the district office serves as a go-between for

village chiefs and the provincial office while village heads work

 on passing information about the fund to the locals and encourage

them to propose their plans to authorities.

Mr Sompong said budget should be allocated per head rather

 than per tambon. Ban Nonpayom Village head Samloeng

 Mathonglang  in tambon Changthong said his village proposed

a plan to construct a 300-metre concrete road in the village,

requiring 400,000 baht and 30 days to be completed.

He said he hoped the government approves the budget.

The government prioritises agriculture-related projects, he said,

 adding his village is not in an agricultural zone. Mr Samloeng

 admitted the concrete road plan would not lead to jobs, saying

 most residents in his village are adults and the elderly who need infrastructure and facilities to improve their quality of life.

 An official at Buri Ram's Lam Plai Mat district who wanted

 his name withheld said many villages had proposed their

plans to the provincial office but budgets had not been approved.

 Under the government's condition, contractors must hire local

 residents as workers for any construction projects to create

incomes for low-income earners in the village, officials said.

 Residents must send a copy of their ID card to claim their

 wages under the project, he added.

 Meanwhile, Surapong Chandetsitthikul, Ban Nongkhunoi village

head, in tambon Thamuang in Buri Ram, said his community

wanted to add an expansion to the community's pavilion and

 improve public infrastructure, requiring a budget of

300,000 baht.

He said building materials shops, electronic appliance shops

and vendors whose shops are in the pavilion's compound would

 take advantage of the project. Meanwhile, Moo 8 village

 head Somchai Sopho in Ubon Ratchathani's Don Mot Daeng

district said his village plans to spend a budget of 148,000 baht

to improve the community's water management system, to

 dredge up canals in the community and create kaem ling --

 monkey cheek or water-retention areas.

The proposed plan was already approved and he was looking

 for a contractor to handle the construction work.

 "It's not easy to find a contractor. I worry if the project will

 finish in time," Mr Somchai said. Don Mot Daeng district

chief officer Chaisaeng Pattanasakpinyo, said many tambon

proposed water management plans.

Thirteen of them have been approved, with the province under

 threat of drought and floods that would affect the local

 agricultural system.

The projects are transparent, Mr Chaisaeng noted, adding

 residents had asked to participate in every step of the work.

 Project details can be found at the district office's website,

he said.

Surat Umong, a resident from Ban Krasaengtai village of

 Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak district, said the tambon fund is good

 project and people in his community had agreed to spend the

 money to improve infrastructure.

 Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said authorities overseeing

 the tambon fund project had inspected the project and found

no corruption.

 But it found that most residents are not conscious of the fact

 the project benefits them.

Responding to residents' complaints on the delayed budget

 approval, the premier said more than 19 billion baht from the

 proposed 35 billion baht has been approved.

 Gen Prayut was speaking after a meeting with local authorities

 overseeing the tambon fund programme on Thursday in

 Ubon Ratchathani.

He also ordered authorities to intensify efforts to inform locals

about the project and its benefits.

News,Politics,Bangkok Post, 16 November 2015.

 

In my viewpoint if people in every tambon understand

the propose and the process of "tambon fund" scheme.

They can cooperate more better and the tambon fund scheme

can success to stimulate GDP growth of the tambon and

the country.

 

Hope  the tambon scheme work under no corruption so that

it is truly useful for the economic growth of the country.

 

Sincerely Yours.