Thai living standards grows: solidarity against the economic crisis
Bangkok (AsiaNews) -
Recent statistics show that in Thailand the standard of living of the
population is growing, but even if the poverty rate is one-fifth compared to 20
years ago, the problem of debt, insufficient income for savings, 'access to
basic education, social security and career opportunities are still factors in
the lives of the poor.
Compared to 20 years ago, the percentage of people living below the poverty
line has fallen from 42% in 1988 to 8.1% in 2010. Nevertheless, about a fifth
of Thai families do not own their home and about two thirds of households have
debts and can not earn enough to create savings.
In February, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra called 2012 "a year of
challenge" and encouraged people to take action in the midst of the
various challenges". In this regard she has promised that the government will
encourage the private sector to increase incomes to encourage spending. And
Prasarn Triratvorakul, Governor of the Bank of Thailand, in May, revised the
GDP upward of 6% from 5.7% and 4.9% respectively in March and January.
The latest statistics conducted by the National
Research Committee indicate a population of 62,926,261 people in 77
provinces of the country. The quarterly figure for 2011 shows only 39,317,200
people employed, with household debt at 136,562 baht per year (about 4,600
dollars).
The two following stories are examples of how people in the economic crisis
seek the cooperation and solidarity within their communities, using natural and
intellectual resources to create a small "family business" with
sincerity, energy, patience and honesty.
The first is Boonkum Barn, community leader of Baan Bua Doke, in the northern province of
Phayao. The inhabitants are mostly farmers and craftsmen who work on bamboo. Barn
Boonkum in 2009 won the award for best village chief. "I attended various
training courses at the Department for Community Development - he says - and I
have brought economic self-sufficiency to the actual practice of everyday life
by getting the villagers to grow organic vegetables, and fish frogs and
catfish. In addition to this, to increase in income we will use the bamboo to
make baskets. Residents participate in decisions on the community board. "
Barn emphasizes that it is important that everyone in the community rely on
each other, for authentic solidarity.
The second story is about Vicha Phromyong, known internationally as
"Coffee Man", but called "Ah Po" in Doi Chang, in the northern province of
Chiang Rai, which means "Venerable elder."
"Ah Po", who is 60, recalled that
the tribal people of the northern mountains - without the possibility of formal
education - are traditionally dedicated to the cultivation of opium. "When
the government launched a project to change the culture of economics, Ahdel came
to me, a village chief and friend, to ask for advice. In the area there was an
area of 500 rais (1600 sqm) cultivated for coffee, but the price was not good.
" He then began to study in detail how to make the production cost, before
investing the initial 325 thousand Baht (11 thousand dollars). "We worked
very hard": "Young men helped build enough roads and schools for the
children, everyone worked not for money but for the development of their
communities."
"On my own I could not do anything, but today our 'Doi Chang' is coffee is
sold in Dean and Deluca in Harrods Department Store in England.
Foreigners are amazed, because they have never seen such an operation performed
by people who are both the farmer, the producer and the exporter".
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22/03/2017 15:41
01/05/2019 10:15
03/12/2018 13:35
