A STUDY ON THE GUIDELINES FOR DEVELOPING COMMUNITY WELFARE FUND BASED ON PARTICIPATION OF THE PEOPLE IN THA-UTHAE SUB-DISTRICT, KANCHANADIT DISTRICT SURAT THANI PROVINCE

Abstract

The objectives of this research were as follows: 1) to study the development of community welfare fund with the participation of the people in Tha Uthae Sub-district, Kanchanadit District, Surat Thani Province;  2) to study the guidelines for developing community welfare fund with the participation of the people in Tha Uthae Sub-district, Kanchanadit District, SuratThani Province; It was a Mixed-Methods-Research including qualitative and quantitative research. The population in this study composed of 3,499 members of community welfare fund. The sample size was determined by using the formula of (Taro Yamane) getting the sample size of 359 persons from the calculation and interviewing a group of 23 key informants. The instruments used for data collection included a questionnaire and an in-depth interview form. The statistics used in data analysis were percentage, mean and  Standard Deviation. The findings of this research were as follows. 1. The overall development of community welfare fund with the participation of the people in Tha Uthae Sub-district, Kanchanadit District SuratThani Province was at a high level (= 3.99) When it was considered by aspect, it could be chronologically arranged from the highest to the lowest average as follows: the leadership aspect was at the highest level (= 4.10); followed by the aspect of rules and regulations setting of the community welfare fund ( = 3.96) which was equal to the aspect of the participation of the people ( = 3.96); and the lowest mean was the administration and management (`= 3.95). 2. Regarding the guidelines for the development of community welfare fund with participation of people in Tha Uthae Sub-district, Kanchanadit District Surat Thani Province, it was found that most of the people in the community gave their comments as follows. The community welfare fund committee should have their leadership in order that they would be able to successfully run the community welfare fund. The administration and management of the community welfare fund should be systematically operated. The committee should be appropriately selected. Opportunities should be opened for the people in the community to express their opinions on the operation of the community welfare fund. The rules, regulations or welfare of the community welfare fund should not be modified too often. The performance of the community welfare fund should be publicized that the people would be thoroughly informed.  Training or study visits should be regularly organized for enhancing know-how of the community welfare fund committee. In addition, welfare of compensation for medical expenses should be increased to motivate more people at working age to apply as members of the community welfare fund.