NRC ponders free medical care and art funding

THE National Reform Council (NRC) spent a second day yesterday scrutinising proposals for the new constitution – from wider access to free medical care and social services, funding for art and cultural organisations, and issues concerning religion.
After its deliberations, the NRC will pass recommendations on these and other items to the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC).
NRC member Pannee Jarusombat received many of yesterday’s proposals from Amphon Thongrat, secretary of the State Enterprises Workers’ Relations Confederation (SERC). Pannee said that in the area of labour reform, people should have access to public services in the form of free medical treatment provided by the government. There should also be cover for the homeless, including those who do not earn enough for their living expenses, she said.
“Under the 2007 Constitution, public services could not be accessed by a wide range of people and failed to promote basic living structures for many,” Pannee said.
Naovarat Pongpaiboon, chairman of a panel on art, culture, integrity and religion reform, proposed strengthening of these areas through more funding to develop research into Thai art and culture.
“These areas of reform can be considered as a tree, in which the roots are politics and branches are business. Hence it is everyone’s duty to ensure this tree is healthy and the government will play an important role in strengthening it by focusing and funding the projects for the country’s development,” the panel chairman said.
He suggested imposing a tax of one to three per cent on international performers who come with their own shows to boost the budgets of art and cultural organisations.
“The government should really focus on cultural and integrity reform more, because it is a fundamental ideology for everyone in |the country and integrity must be inserted in politicians’ thoughts to produce a better society,” Naovarat said.
There was also discussion on how religious leaders should people to realise its role in caring for others. This would lead to a better society, Naovarat added.
He said forums should be arranged in which people can express knowledge of local cultures and inform those with few ideas how to preserve Thai art and culture.
His views led many committee members to reserve their ideas and opinions about cultural reform for further discussion.
Another NRC member, Trungjai Buranasomphop, raised questions about preserving Thai culture. |She pointed out the many historical ruins in Thailand must be taken care of because they are both tourist attractions and important for business.
She said that for integrity and religious reform, the state must be promoted in the form of an ideology embedded in everyone’s mind. There should be a committee to ensure everyone in the society realises how important such issues are.