Conflict, Legitimacy and Government Reform: Equitable Allocation of ...

Reforming Local Government for the Achievement of Fairness in Thai Society
Reform of local administrative
organization for creation of equity
Innovation of public services and
network-based operation
Direk Pattamasiriwat
De c e n t r a l i z a t i o n t o l o c a l
administrative organizations (LAO)
has been advocated and pushed
forward for over a decade after the enactment
of the 1997 Constitution. Consequently,
quality of life of Thai people has dramatically
improved from the provision of local public
services, especially in the area of basic
infrastructure that is considered basic needs
of the people (according to Maslow’s
concept). However, there are many levels of
public needs. Most likely, public services that
constitute a higher level of public needs are
services that promote quality of life which
encompass a) Educational services at all levels
b) Health care and treatment services as well
as health promotion, disease prevention and
behavioral modification to mitigate health
risks c) Provision of social welfare services d)
Pr o v i s i o n o f s e r v i c e s p e r t a i n i n g t o
environment and prevention of violation of
environmental rights, which are current
problems and often reported as news in the
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