Reforms needed to eradicate inequality: NRC

The seminar was held to address steps that should be taken to help the country move toward a brighter future.
Representatives of different groups of NRC members took turns in presenting their information at the seminar, which was moderated by NRC member Chirmsak Pinthong.
“Inequalities have existed in Thailand mainly due to the large income gap between the rich and the poor and between rural and urban residents,” NRC member Kurujit Nakornthap said, adding that this could be blamed on problems within the economy, natural resources and the educational sector.
So, strict enforcement of tax laws, measures to counter monopolies and efforts to end educational inequalities were necessary, Kurujit said.
Another NRC member Kobsak Pootrakool said inefficient tax collection was one of the reasons why inequality had persisted in society.
“We have talked about inequalities for a long time, but no agency has taken up the mission of ending these problems,” he pointed out.
Thicha na Nakorn, also an NRC member, said relevant authorities must strive to ensure that no students were forced to drop out of school, adding that dropouts were more liable to break the law and end up in legal trouble. “The government should provide opportunities to the underprivileged, instead of creating more problems for them,” she said.
NRC member Saree Aongsom-wang said even teachers faced abuse, citing a report that some female teachers were asked for both sex and money in exchange for a transfer out of remote areas.
NRC’s Sungsidh Piriyarangsan said state mechanisms did not favour the reduction of inequality. “Government policies are not very clear or consistent,” he said.
Sungsidh said apart from improving tax measures, the government should also promote power decentralisation, propagation of knowledge and inculcation of an anti-graft culture.
Sombat Thamrongthanyawong, another NRC member, said people should actively engage in politics so as to ensure good people are installed in positions of power.
“At the same time, we need to eradicate poverty. Poor people are at risk of falling prey to bad politicians,” he said.
Sombat said that the tenure of people holding political office should be shorter, because it would help curb politicians’ influence. “The country also needs strong, efficient checks and balances mechanisms,” he said.