Thaksin Plans To Visit SML Model Villages

PM plans to visit SML model villages early next year

BANGKOK, Nov 26 (TNA) - Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra plans to visit model villages of the government-support small, medium and large-scale (SML) village fund programme early next year and stay there for 7-10 days.

The prime minister plans to visit the SML model villages in mid January 2006, according to Government Spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee.

"The prime minister has asked the Ministry of Interior to select a district where state budgets under the SML village fund project have been allocated, and he will visit the district's model villages," Dr. Surapong told journalists here on Friday after a meeting between the prime minister and his deputies.

"The prime minister plans to stay there 7-10 days to work with local residents and intellectuals on local development projects and poverty eradication plans, and follow up implementations of the projects and plans," he said.

The SML-designated areas are part of the government's integrated strategy on national economic drives from the grassroots level, according to the government spokesman. (TNA)--E002