NIDA proposes reform measures

BANGKOK, October 11 (TNA) - The Bangkok-based National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) has proposed reform measures on human resources development to the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), which are expected to be later considered by the newly-set up National Reform Council (NRC). NIDA professors said at a press conference on Friday that the proposed measures need to be considered urgently by the NCPO, as they will assist low income people and reduce social disparity in Thailand. The proposals include decentralizing power, in which rural organisations can participate in decision makings with government agencies, mapping out policies and plans to distribute state resources to rural areas and prepare communication, social and policy areas for middle-income earners living in cities and villages so that they can share information with each other. Other proposals include lowering influences of the business sector, while increasing the roles of community representatives, reforming tax systems so that the rich have to pay higher taxes and collecting inheritance and land taxes, as well as increasing direct communication channels from community areas to the central government. NIDA proposed that solving social disparity in the long-term should be done through boosting national productivity and competitiveness, as well as developing human potential and technology and innovations which can compete with overseas rivals. Most importantly, the government must end corruption in the country urgently because it is the root cause of social disparity and social injustice. “Law must be law”, NIDA said in the proposals, and Thais must change their attitude in order to rid the malpractices. NIDA also indicated in its proposals that “nothing has been changed in the Thai society for more than five decades. The NCPO and the interim Thai government, both headed by Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha,plan a comprehensive national reform, designed for ridding poverty, corruption and other malpractices in the country. (TNA)