PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PRINCIPLES OF THE APARIHNIYADHAM OF SAP SANUN SUBDISTRICT SERVICE ORGANIZATION MUAK LEK DISTRICT, SARABURI PROVINCE

Abstract

Objectives of this research article were: 1. to study the level of public participation in community development of the Subsanun Sub-District Administrative Organization, Saraburi Province; 2. to examine the relationship between the principle of Aparihaniyadhamma and public participation in community development of the Subsanun Sub-District Administrative Organization; and 3. to investigate public participation in community development in accordance with the principle of Aparihaniyadhamma. A mixed-methods approach was employed. The quantitative data were collected through questionnaires with a reliability coefficient of 0.979 from 382 samples selected using Taro Yamane’s formula. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. For the qualitative research, data were collected by in-depth interviewing 9 key informants, using structured in-depth-interview script and analyzed by contextual content descriptive interpretation to support the quantitative findings.

The results revealed that 1. Both community development and adherence to the principle of Aparihaniyadhamma were at a high level; 2. The principle of Aparihaniyadhamma had a statistically significant positive correlation, ranging from moderate to high, with all dimensions of community development, particularly in the areas of economy, culture, and public health, indicating that applying Buddhist principles as guidelines for life and community governance enhanced public roles in development across all dimensions; and 3. The promotion of participation should be guided by two key approaches: the application of the seven principles of Aparihaniyadhamma and development based on four main aspects of community development. Policy recommendations include fostering a culture of public meetings, reducing bureaucratic constraints, promoting gender equality, and revitalizing the roles of elders and monasteries as systematic centers of the community.