CDRM Denies Projects Will Be Terminated

[Jai Dee]

CDRM denies the village fund, SML and 30-baht medical care projects will be terminated

The Council of Democratic Reform under the Constitutional Monarchy (CDRM) denies reports that it will cancel the one-million-baht village fund and SML projects and the 30-baht medical scheme.

Assistant CDRM spokesman Duang Thewapithak (ดวง เทวะพิทักษ์) said implementation the three projects will continue because they help improve quality of life of the people.

Maj. Duang said government agencies concerned should also explain to the public that the three projects will not be revoked to prevent confusion and misunderstanding that may affect CDRM campaign to promote unity and peace in the country.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 26 September 2006

[Scott]

It's good to see that they aren't just undoing things willy-nilly.

[pete_r]

Only one comment on this news so far, that's interesting.

[billd766]

I am sure that in the last couple of days there were reports from the North that bthese would be cancelled. It may have had something to do with the previous governments people in that area.#

The million baht revolving fund was not the greatest idea as was open to abuse but at least it did work, the SME I know nothing about but the 30 baht medical scheme was one of the best ideas provided that in the future it is better funded and controlled.

[MrSnrang]

The one-million baht scheme should have included rules on what the money could be spent on instead of having the villagers go ahead and spend it on unnecessary things when they need running water, power lines, etc.

[Ricardo]

I am sure that in the last couple of days there were reports from the North that bthese would be cancelled. It may have had something to do with the previous governments people in that area.#

The million baht revolving fund was not the greatest idea as was open to abuse but at least it did work, the SME I know nothing about but the 30 baht medical scheme was one of the best ideas provided that in the future it is better funded and controlled.

Agreed. This scheme, while not perfect, has helped many poorer rural people. But the funding has always meant that the scheme promised more than it could actually deliver.

Improving the funding for it would be a clear signal that recent improvements in rural society were going to be maintained if possible.

But we do not yet know, and can only speculate, how much money remains unspent after a long list of corrupt prestige mega-projects. It is not encouraging that the previous government had seemed unwilling to proceed with new projects, unless foreign finance was available, and that (according to friends in public jobs) the public payroll was not always able to be met on time.

We must wait and see.

[Jai Dee]

CDR handed policies to government officials

The Council for Democratic Reform (CDR) called a meeting with all chiefs and provincial governors nationwide. At the meeting, the working policies were handed to the government officials and the progresses of various projects were acknowledged.

At 10:00 hours today, the CDR Chairman, Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratglin (สนธิ บุญยรัตกลิน), presided over the meeting, and emphasized the chiefs to urgently work on the tasks to improve the people’s quality of life. The important projects to work on include the Village Fund, the SML Fund, the 30-baht universal healthcare scheme, and the eradication of narcotics.

He has assigned the Interior, Public Health, Agriculture and Cooperatives, and Foreign Affair Ministries as well as other relevant units to take care of these issues and report the progress of their implementations.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 29 September 2006

[VanZam]

Just out of interest, does anyone know where the amount of 30b came from?

[Chang_paarp]

Just out of interest, does anyone know where the amount of 30b came from?

One Aussie dollar?