The Social Development and Human Security Ministry aims to give five rai of land to each underprivileged family and establish a fund to lend money to the poor from the government lottery.

Thai society will not leave anyone behind, be united and strong, and be based on virtue. These three characteristics will be national strategies that must be urgently implemented, Surayud told a meeting of agencies held at Government House to brainstorm social development strategies. "If we can help 7.5 million poor people and a large number of homeless, stateless or displaced Thais - and the other 60 million Thais have kindness and hold on to the same principle of 'not leaving one another' - then Thai-land would be full of happiness and reconciliation," he said.

Despite its one-year time limit, the government will try to enable Thai society to be self-sufficient, he said, urging everyone to maintain the five Buddhist precepts as guidelines in order to pass on a 'gem society' to future children.

National Health Foundation secretary-general Dr Somsak Chunharasmi said the meeting's suggestions would be submitted to the Cabinet via the ministry.

The suggestions comprise: allocation of five rai of land to the poor; a loan fund for the poor; a public-communication draft for strengthening society's understanding and intelligence; a public organisation to take care of community radio networks; and two weeks annual paid leave for employees at public and private organisations to undertake voluntary work.

Social Development and Human Security Minister Paiboon Wattanasiritham reported that society faced many problems, with nearly 50,000 homeless people, nearly 500,000 stateless people, 30,000 displaced Thais, nearly 300,000 HIV-positive cases, 70,000 ex-convicts, two million immigrant workers and nearly one million disabled people.

Social critic Prawese Wasi also suggested 10 factors for a good society. They include: strengthening communities; self-sufficiency; maintaining a balance in natural resources; honest mass communication; a human-oriented public health system; virtue-led education; more-integrated and community-participated provincial development; and reform of the justice system.