|
|
|
The Land and Its People
|
Existing Social Welfare Programmes
The wide array of social welfare
activities in Thailand falls under Hie
jurisdiction of government departments,
state enterprises, and local self government
bodies. Apart from these, non-govem-menlal organizations not only participate
actively in the provision of social
welfare services to the people but also
take the initiative in developing new services.
The Department of Public Welfare
is the principal government agency,
providing services for needy people
throughout the country. The nature of
its programmes is remedial, preventive.
curative, and developmental in order to
enable people to become productive
citizens. Its services are extended to
specific target groups, among them
children, women, me elderly, the disabled,
the destitute, discharged mental patients,
disaster victims, homeless persons, and
hilltribcs. Non-governmental social
welfare organizations (NGOs) play a
supportive role to the government
organizations. It is estimated that there
are over 3,000 NGOs in the country,
with operations ranging from rural and
slum development to primary health
care and the development of women and
children. Major coordinating bodies for
NGOs are the National Council on
Social Welfare under the royal patronage
of His Majesty the King and the National
Council of Women of Thailand under
the royal patronage of Her Majesty
the Queen. Both government and non-
government organizations follow the
same precepi, which is "lo help people
to stand on their own feet."
| | |
|
|