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The Land and Its People
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Social Welfare
Origins of Organized Social Welfare
As elsewhere in the world, the
history of social welfare in Thailand can
be traced back over the centuries in the
form of charity or humanitarian concern,
deeply rooted in the Buddhist philosophy. This is evidenced by the fact that
Thai people never fail to help each other
in time of distress.
Buddhist monasteries have played
a prominent role in the development
of social welfare in Thailand. This was
evident in a wide variety of areas,
particularly in education, vocational
training, employment, and rehabilitation,
long before social welfare was officially established.
Humanuitarain concern is rooted in Buddhist philosophy
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The family also plays an important
role in creating an individual framework
of social welfare. While babies and
young children are generally cared for
by grandparents or other older members
of the family, it is customary for Thais
to take good care of the elderly in their
families. The concept of gratitude is
deeply ingrained from early childhood
and generosity is also an underlying
national characteristic that results in a
willingness to help those in need. This
was witnessed in Thailand's efforts to
shoulder the burden of the numerous
refugees who came to the country as a
result of the fighting in Indochina.
However, it was not until 1883 that
the first social welfare organization,
the Red Cross, was founded by royal
initiative to help wounded soldiers.
During the previous year, the first
orphanage had also been set up. In 1910,
one of the leading private welfare
agencies, the Poh Teck Tung Foundation,
was established. The Department of
Public Welfare was officially established in 1940.
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Humanuitarain concern is rooted in Buddhist philosophy
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Thereafter a number of private
social welfare organizations, taking the
form of associations, foundations.
groups, and organizations, flourished in
response to the increasing needs of the
people. In 1942 the National Culture Act
was enacted to control and supervise
such agencies. The significance of
social welfare has been increasingly
recognized since then through new
legislation and constitutes an integral
part of the national development police.
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