On 28 November 2022, NXPO hosted a focus group meeting with members of the public, private and people sectors, to present and discuss the results of public hearings on poverty eradication through the implementation of the BCG model. The meeting aims to finalize the issues to be presented at the upcoming National Health Assembly scheduled to take place on 21-22 December 2022.
NXPO has organized three public hearings on poverty eradication through the implementation of the BCG model on 7, 14 and 15 November 2022. It was clear from the hearings that several programs have been implemented by multitude of organizations, including new programs operated under sandboxes, to improve family income. As a policy agency, NXPO has designed public policies with priority given to poverty eradication and the improvement of the national competitiveness based on the 13th National Economic and Social Development Plan. The government has also proposed the BCG model to drive sustainability agenda at the APEC 2022.
NXPO Vice President Dr. Kanchana Wanichkorn explained that through the BCG principle, NXPO has applied knowledge, innovation and creativity to create business opportunities, jobs and income at the local level to strengthen the grassroots economy. The approach is to reduce expenses and increase incomes.
Dr. Kanchana presented issues that were raised from the three hearings. The public sector suggested that the BCG poverty eradication should be made a national agenda to mobilize all concerned agencies to move towards the same goals. The industry sector and community enterprises have been working with people in the communities to develop and add value to products to increase household income and prevent young generations from migrating to work in big cities. Young generation is essential to community development and local economy, which are the foundation of poverty reduction. The people sector expressed their concern that people who are left out from the poor people database cannot access the public welfare and that the ethnic groups are unable to involve in the resource management of land they are residing in.
On those issues raised from the hearings, Dr. Kanchana suggested to increase involvement of the people sector as they can facilitate the cooperation among various parties and agreed that the BCG poverty eradication should be made a national agenda as well as a provincial development agenda.
Furthermore, the hearings also suggested the development of targeted development and poverty eradication strategic plan for each individual province, and the integration of various assistance programs targeting different social groups such as the poor, the vulnerable, the disabled, and the disadvantaged into the public welfare system. The poverty eradication should be a mission of all ministries and government agencies and should be implemented in collaboration with the local administrative offices and involve the people sector. Each provincial governor should champion the poverty eradication effort in their own province, bringing together various public, private and people organizations to work together, and align the poverty eradication with the area-based development. Progress of poverty eradication should be reported to the National Health Assembly and the cabinet on a quarterly basis.
