[Thailand] PM, Chavalit disagree on approach

from The Bangkok Post

CHEEWIN SATTHA & PENCHAN CHAROENSUTHIPAN

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra backs the role of local bodies in fighting poverty whereas Chavalit Yongchaiyudh has other ideas, saying the At Samat model is less than ideal in solving the problem. At a meeting of tambon administration organisations from across the country in Chiang Mai yesterday, Mr Thaksin stressed the importance of local bodies which he said were key to easing national poverty.

The grassroots bodies are the first to come into contact with ordinary people's problems and have insight into them, said the prime minister.

He said technological innovations would also be brought in to assist the TAOs' poverty eradication efforts.

The newly-established anti-poverty centre headed by Gen Chavalit will act as a coordinator in delegating authority and distributing resources to district chiefs who are supposed to work in partnership with the TAOs in tackling poverty.

Training for district chiefs would be modelled on the anti-poverty workshop which concluded last week in Roi Et's At Samat district.

Meanwhile, at a seminar on fighting poverty at Chulalongkorn University yesterday, Gen Chavalit said the At Samat reality workshop concentrated too much on the finer details of each troubled individual.

Instead, the government should set out long-term, sustainable development plans for the benefit of the whole community. It should also provide new technology while people should be encouraged to pool ideas and exchange knowledge and local wisdom.

He said success in overcoming poverty hinged on participation from grassroots people.

Local people should take centre stage in deciding their own poverty eradication plans. The state may also step in to support them financially.

Citing the merits of the Baan Mankong housing project, Gen Chavalit said he favoured the common use of land and sharing of resources over the ''charity handouts'' of land plots to each individual as witnessed in At Samat district.

However, he said he was eyeing the three southernmost provinces as the first location to try out his poverty-eradication campaign.