Appropriate Community Welfare Management at Ban Bohk Community in Non Sub-district, Non Narai District, Surin Province

Abstract

          The objectives of this qualitative research were: 1) to study a community welfare management at Ban Bohk community in Non sub-district, Non Narai district, Surin province; 2) to study the master model in community welfare management of Nongsarai sub-district, Phanomtuan district, Kanchanaburi province; and 3) to provide an appropriate community welfare management model for Ban Bohk community. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with community leaders and local philosophers. The collected data had been triangulated to check its reliability. Finally, a focused-group discussion was arranged to brainstorm ideas relating to an appropriate community welfare management model for Ban Bohk community. 

          The study found that:

          The majority of people living in Ban Bohk community is agriculturist. A community welfare is provided as a way to relieve people’s distress. Importantly,  a community leader should be a sacrificed person who works honestly. Ban Bohk community community welfare comprises of Ban Bohk Fund, Ban Bohk Poverty Reduction Project Fund, Community Enterprise Fund for Basketry Group, Saving Group for Production, Central Fund for Village Development, Ban Bohk Elderly Aid Fund, and Fund for Community Store. Further, the study also revealed that Ban Bohk community is the community that still preserves its own unique cultures and identities. Ban Bohk community is the community where people live based on the principle of generosity and the principle of Hit Sip Song Klong Sip Si which is the traditional practice of Northeastern communities.

          According to the study related to the master model of community welfare management at Nongsarai sub-district, the study showed that a community welfare management of Nongsarai sub-district in Phanomtuan district, Kanchanaburi province, is based on a systematic management of communities’ network at a sub-district level. At Nongsarai sub-district, the Constitution of Goodness was created and the goodness of people will be evaluated. When people have to participate a meeting or activity, their books of goodness have to be signed by committees every time. In addition, people have to show information about law violations, electric and water bills, and a home accounting. According to a personal loan approval, a borrower must be a member of a financial institution and has to have a home accounting and a monthly saving. Further, a borrower must be a member of community welfare fund and practice following poverty and debt solving plans of the sub-district.

          Basing on the study about the appropriate community welfare management model for Ban Bohk community, it is recommended as the followings. 1) A cooperative should be provided in a form of agricultural cooperative as a community welfare for agriculturists. 2) Various vocational groups should be established systematically and a product should be developed to sell internationally and domestically. 3) A community store should be managed for sharing benefits among the member. 4) A community bank should be established for a promotion of sufficiency economy, saving, and borrowing for business or vocational purposes to people.