Page 11 - ELITE PLUS MAGAZINE VOL9

Previous incidents have shown that a subversion of administrative power does not lead to successful reform. Reform should be part of a national agenda. It cannot be realised without an administrative sector to implement and enforce the initiatives. At the same time, Dr Prawase also addressed the importance of well-being for people at the bottom of the pyramid. He compared an inclusive growth strategy to the construction of a pagoda.“The base of a pagoda is similar to local communities. When the bottom is well constructed, it will firmly support the structure at the top. We do not set our position against the authorities but we are supporting them. Currently the national economic growth has fluctuated violently because we have focused on business at theapex of the pyramid. Once the economic base is shifted to the bottom and the base is developed, the national economy will become stable from down to top accordingly.”Various efforts are being made to develop the base of Thai society. “If the government budget is given to people to spend and stimulate the flow of the economy at the top, this is populism and will never get sustainable results,” Prof Prawase said. “We have to create tools which help people earn a livelihood. NGOs have undertaken this mission of developing sustainable projects such as providing water resources for agriculture or adding value to farmers’ products. This is what we call right livelihood. We have to set up community enterprises and spread them throughout the country.”However, development requires effective management to push ideasinto practice. The government, idealistic NGOs and scholars lack this capability. Since business needs good management in order to remain profitable, this sector must take a part in the cooperative triangle. After farmers are well informed and ready to make changes, the business sector will be in charge of integrating agricultural products and initiate profitable yet sustainable develop- ment.“As I said at the beginning, poor villagers normally have fewer red blood cells than normal. But once you go where development is actively implemented, you can find a healthy and rosy complexion on the faces of the locals.”Elite+ 9