The Ministry of Interior is looking to establish an organisation called the Office of Sufficiency Economy Development Zone (OSEDZ), to tackle poverty and provide people with some economic stability.
The project takes its inspiration from the sufficiency economy philosophy championed by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great, said Suttipong Juljarern, the ministry’s permanent secretary.
“His Majesty’s philosophy is an important methodology that will help eradicate poverty and increase people’s potential,” he said.
The ministry also aims to reduce the income gap and raise the quality of living for people in targeted areas.
The scope of operations of the OSEDZ will include the development of civil servants and social work; preservation of the environment and natural resources; and public interest activities.
Mr Suttipong said people in targeted areas would be able to rely on themselves and earn a decent living with help from the programme, leading to more stability and security.
The idea for the OSEDZ grew out of discussions held on Feb 8 about sufficiency economy development zones. Participants included Mr Suttipong and his adviser Pichet Sowittayasakul; Theeraphong Krutdilakanan, deputy director-general of the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning; and Suwit Sappavitthayasiri, assistant director of the Fiscal Policy Research Institute.