Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) hosted a press conference on 10 February 2021 unvieling the data collected under the poverty eradication initiative. MHESI Minister Prof. Dr. Anek Laothamatas stated that MHESI has formulated a workplan to employ research and innovation for target poverty alleviation. The plan is to establish “Personalized Poverty Alleviation” (PPA) platform to build a system and mechanisms for all stakeholders to participate in the implementation process. The pilot project was launched in ten provinces with the lowest per capita income, namely Pattani, Amnat Charoen, Mae Hong Son, Chai Nat, Surin, Yasothon, Sisaket, Sakon Nakhon Mukdahan and Kalasin.
Under this plan, MHESI is working in collaboration with Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Social Development and Human Security. The work includes 1) collecting data and identifying poor people, 2) employing participatory approach to engage government agencies, academic institutes, communities and industry in the design and implementation process, and 3) creating solutions specific to each individual target group by applying suitable knowledge, research and local wisdom.
Over 8 months of the project, study teams were dispatched to perform field studies in ten provinces. Data and information are collected and analyzed to identify root causes of poverty. The data, as of 4 February 2021, revealed that poverty situation has worsened, with the number of poor households increasing from 75,873 to 89,710 and the number of poor people jumping from 131,040 to 334,153. The studies also uncovered skill gap of individual poor person which will be used to design skill development program according to the concept of personalized poverty alleviation.
Dr. Kitti Satjawattana, Director of Program Management Unit for Area-based Development (PMU-A) explained that the field studies would shed some light to the questions: Who are the poor?, Where are the poor?, Why are they poor? and How can they escape poverty?. The answers to those questions will help identify solutions applicable to the lower 20% and upper 20% of the poor population. A system will be designed to connect the individual to public assistance programs provided by provincial administrative agencies of Ministry of Social Development and Human Security or to aid programs run by private organizations. In 2021, ten more provinces will be added to the project, namely Buriram, Narathiwat, Ubon Ratchathani, Lampang, Phatthalung, Nakhon Ratchasima, Roi Et, Phitsanulok, Loei and Yala.
