Jovial PM brings colour and 'pracha rat' to the Northeast

Observers said the most obvious benefit he saw was the successful push ahead of the government’s “pracha rat” (people’s state) strategy. 

The trip also revealed the success economic stimulus packages were having on the lower northeastern provinces and some figures indicated a boost in economic growth in the provinces.

Government spokesman Maj General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the government was happy with the report that the economic stimulus was helping boost economic growth in the lower northeastern provinces - Ubon Ratchathani, Yasothon, Si Sa Ket, Amnart Charoen. They witnessed an average 2.5 per cent growth this year and expected to fuel further growth of 4.2 per cent next year.

The PM, accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak and other economic ministers, chose to inspect Ban Yang Kradao first because the village was said to have a strong sense of community that suited the model of pracha rat.

 The Prayut government coined the term pracha rat, or a state of the people, linking it to a serious economic policy initiatives to boost the people’s potential. The PM denied the move was populism.

People who want to study the sufficiency model often visit Ban Yang Kradao which has Bt28 million circulated in its economy. The villagers were well-prepared for the event.

Village leaders trained villagers stationed at activity booths on how to answer the PM’s questions in detail. Despite the heat, the PM spent two hours scrutinising every booth in detail, showing interest in water management, rice plantation and OTOP products.

Prayut brought “colour” to the event with his jokes, criticism and suggestions.

The PM also sought a meeting with a red-shirt leader in the province who said they were willing to work with the government, 

Prayut took to the stage to deliver his address, pleading for understanding from villagers about the right timing for democracy and elections. “Democracy takes care of all people in the nation not just a particular group. Do not let people [return to that]. You know what I mean,’’ he said.

As Prayut inspected a community market, he heard singers presenting a song that had lyrics related to the pracha rat scheme. Prayut asked for the words to be written down and gave them to Somkid who photocopied them. 

Prayut’s visit this time was different from earlier ones and people were able to get close to him. The PM and his Cabinet members on the trip paid attention to every detail of every project. 

Somkid, the government’s chief economic team leader, who designed the pracha rat scheme, was visiting the people with the PM for the first time. He reportedly whispered to his aide that pracha rat had ignited the domestic economy. He wanted the PM to visit villagers more often in order to hear their problems and study them more closely. 

Reports about the results of economic stimulus in the four lower north-eastern provinces indicated that farmers there were being given other jobs in compensation for dwindling income from rice.

Farmers have been trained to opt for rice planting with lower water consumption or other crops that need less water than rice. The four provinces rehabilitate water resources and were able to store 17.18 million cubic metres that benefit 57,265 families.

 As part of an economic stimulus, the government has set aside Bt5.1 billion to boost the grassroots economy. It has injected part of the money into small-scale investment to upgrade quality of living, and provide grants to poor farmers and needy residents. 

The state expenditure index for provinces this year expanded 6.4 per cent and is expected to grow by 17.2 per cent next year.

The government also provided a Bt5.9 billion loan to 677 SMEs through state and private banks. The private investment index for provinces will expand 5.1 per cent this year and 7.6 per cent next year.

The Bt1 million Village Fund and the Bt5 million Tambon Fund have created more jobs and increased consumption with Bt5.4 billion circulating in the economy.