Problems and Obstacles of Social Welfare Management in Subdistrict Administrative Organizations

Abstract

The objectives of this research article were 1) to study concepts and theories regarding development of human security and social welfare; 2) to study the powers and duties of Thai local government organizations according to the law; and 3) to study the problems and obstacles of local government organizations in solving problems of social welfare management. It was the qualitative research using document analysis. The research results found that 1) social development theory and the concept of human security had the goal of responding to the needs of members living together in society to have stability in their lives. It was the will of society and has been determined to be the duty of the state; 2) Thai constitution had the intention of promoting human security by making it a duty of the state and letting state agencies operate according to the principle of decentralization to regional and local areas; and 3) problems and obstacles in the case of social welfare management of local administrative organizations were the central government which had not yet fully decentralized power to the local government areas. Local government agencies had a misunderstanding that their main duty was to provide public utility services. Policy determination came from political leaders. In practice, this was a major obstacle of solving the problem of social welfare management in local government organizations of Thailand. Although there were checks and balances of power, but in practice, local development according to the local development plan was still the political party that determined the direction, which was a major obstacle in solving social welfare problems of Thai local administrative organizations.