Page 1 of 27 Regional Environmental Technical Assistance 5771 Poverty Reduction & Environmental Management in Remote Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Watersheds Project (Phase I) Non Government Organisations in Thailand: A general overview with emphasis on North Eastern Thailand Current status and potential for development cooperation in the Greater Mekong Subregion By Mr. Colin McQuistan Ms Saowalak Markphaengthong Ms Jitkasem Permpatr CONTENTS 1 Introduction 1.1 The Northeastern region 1.2 Geography 1.3 The future for the Northeast 1.4 Thai NGO Development strategies 2 History of Local Government Organisations 2.1 History of Non Government Organisations 2.2 History of International NGO’s 2.3 History of NGO’s in the Northeastern region 3 Legislation Regarding Local Government Administrative structure 3.1 Provincial Administration 3.2 District Administration 3.3 Tambon (Sub-District) Administration Page 2 of 27 3.4 Village 3.5 NGO Introduction 3.6 Registration Procedure 3.7 Tax and Fund Raising Issues 3.8 The National Cultural Act 1942 3.9 International NGOs in Thailand 4 Government Support and GO-NGO Relations 4.1 National Cultural Commission (NCC) 4.2 Department of Rural Development (DED) 4.3 The Department of Co-operatives Extension 4.4 Department of Environmental Quality Promotion (DEQP) 4.5 The Office of the Environment Fund 5 Co-ordination between NGOs 5.1 NGO-Co-ordination Committee on Rural Development (NGO-CORD) 5.2 The Thai Volunteer Service Foundation (TVS) 5.3 The Local Development Institute (LDI)/ Local Development Foundation (LDF) and Its Networks 6 Informal Networks 6.1 Environmental Protection and Conservation networks 6.2 Community Organisations(CO) and NGOs 7 References 1. INTRODUCTION Thai society in the past three decades since the first national economic and social development plan (1960- 1964) has experienced rapid economic growth. For example the GNP in 1961 compared to 1995 was 2,100 Baht and 68,000 Baht respectively, this indicates a 7.8 % increase per annum. Although this development achieves the objectives set for economic growth within the successive plans the focus is very much been upon Bangkok and the neighbouring provinces. The income per capita for Bangkok residents are much higher than for residents of any other region, especially the northeastern region where the average income per person is approximately 12 times lower. As a result of this development the last census indicates that Thailand now has a total population in excess of 60,817,000 people (1997) with 73.2% living in rural areas. The output from these development plans has focused primarily upon infrastructure construction, provision of facilities and social services. For example the expansion of electricity in the urban and suburban areas now reaches 97.7% of residents. Drinking water reaches 75% and transportation between villages now connects 32% of residential areas from the smallest village to the largest town. To date the total length of surfaced roads reaches 210,025 kilometres. The population receives a basic education system which is enjoyed by 97.7%, and the average life expectancy has increased from 63 years in 1960 to 67.3 years today. An additional, although less desired result of these development plans is that Thai society has become more materialistic. The gap between the rich and the poor has widened. Traditional morals, ethics, disciplines, social values, cultures and lifestyles, have gradually been eroded. Additionally a depletion of natural resources and basic natural environmental services have been consumed as production materials for this industrial development process. Forest area has been reduced in excess of 160,000 hectares per year. This development has emphasised upon the needs of cities. The plans have improved the quality of life for city dwellers but provided negative environmental impacts for the rural majority. Therefore this development has focused upon growth and ignored good management of natural resources and the environment to the detriment of facilitating sustainable development in the future. Page 3 of 27 In response to these problems the eighth National Economic and Social Development Plan (1997-2001), has emphasised human resource development. A universal objective of the plan being the promotion of public participation and co-operation with local organisations, including NGO’s, as indicated in the summary statement which states; 1. Supporting people to participate in social, economic and quality of life development. 2. Supporting the strength of communities for stable and sustainable development. 3. Supporting NGO’s, the private sector, communities and the public to participate in the process of utilisation of natural resources and the environment. 1.1 The Northeastern region The Northeast of Thailand comprises one third of the whole country and is subdivided into 19 provinces. From a cultural point of view, this region is one of the most interesting. However economically speaking it is the most problematic. The population in 1996 exceeded 20 million people which constitutes 33% of the entire population. This region has the lowest average per capita income for the country. The soil used for agriculture is mostly sandy and generally poor, with rife deforestation worsening already poor environmental conditions. The region also suffers badly from droughts. Under these conditions the largely agricultural population cannot produce adequate foodstuffs, even for their own consumption. Debt and a high malnutrition rate for children characterise the present population. Today many people from the Northeast form the largest group of labour migrants who look for seasonal work in Bangkok and other developing cities, during the agriculturally inactive dry season. This factor combined with the economic downturn of 1997 and the poor agricultural productivity bodes ill for the sustainable development of this region in the future. The region whose present inhabitants are amongst the most accommodating and good-natured people in the kingdom. Table 1: Basic Statistics for the Regions of Thailand. Region Central/West East South North Northeast Area (km 2) 67,398 36,502 70,715 169,644 168,854 Population 15,619,312 4,064,872 7,944,865 12,091,337 21,095,841 Forest (km 2 ) 16,288 7,591 12,455 73,886 21,265 Employees 7,710,800 3,740,400 4,063,400 6,216,600 11,430,700 Agriculture 1,225,700 1,179,600 2,237,400 3,542,500 8,551,900 Service sector 4,211,400 1,080,600 952,300 1,216,800 1,369,300 Industry sector 2,273,700 1,480,200 873,700 1,457,300 1,509,500 Gross Product 1,279,442,024 198,668,418 185,868,637 251,059,540 245,953,511 (Thousand’s Baht) Mean GDP 81,900 48,900 23,400 20,800 11,700 Mean annual 27.8 27.8 23.5 21.4 26.6 temperature Mean annual 1,233.2 1,670.8 2,486.7 1,431.6 1,353.1 rainfall 1.2 Geography The northeastern region is much less dramatic or wild when compared to the other regions of Thailand. It Page 4 of 27 comprises a large plateau which is almost square; the Mekong river encircles the north and east. The region is further demarcated by the Phanom Dongrak range to the south which forms the border with Cambodia and the Phetchabun range to the west which separates the Northeast of Thailand from the central plains. This plateau contains two main river basins. The Sakhon Nakhon basin of the Songkhram river and the Korat basin with the rivers Chi and Moon, all of which ultimately flow east into the Mekong river. The entire plateau forms a saucer shape which gently slopes south eastwards from the highest points in the Phetchabun range at 1,000-1,600 meters to the riverbank of the Mekong at approximately 150 meters. Politically the Northeastern region is bounded by Laos PDR to the north and east and by Cambodia to the south. Indeed the region was once claimed by both these kingdoms, a fact well recorded by the wealth of historic Laotian and especially Khmer remnants across the region. Present day inhabitants speak a northeastern Thai dialect which is similar to the Lao language in the northern area and Khmer in the south. 1.3 The future for the Northeast The Northeastern region is the poorest region of Thailand in almost every respect except perhaps resident population. The Northeast is the hottest and driest region in Thailand with the poorest soils. This physical environment when combined with the current economic depression predicts a serious situation for the future of this region. With the economy effecting a return of seasonal labour to their villages in search of a livelihood a further depletion of already dwindling natural resources and increased social problems can be predicted for this region in the near future. 1.4 Thai NGO Development strategies Thai NGOs adhere to the local development strategy model. throughout the last decade Thai NGOs have expressed their view that development must be people centred. In summary today there are five strategies for development; 1. People Participation in development at the village level by organising a learning process between people and people, between community and community. It is an experience learning process when people have the opportunity to visit and study from each other and to examine future possibilities to apply to their own problems. This participatory process also strengthens the village unit, forging links between villagers to strengthen the sense of community, additionally the community leaders responsibility increases and their sense of belonging and providing for their friends increases. This process ultimately develops local community groups into local community organisations which become the focus for problem solving and assistance at the village/community level. 2. Search for lessons and alternatives for social development together.