Bung Kan has been granted provincial status; can its people forge a future based on sustainable growth?
This week, Thailand has gained its 77th province, Bung Kan. The Cabinet earlier this week approved a plan to separate eight districts from the Northeastern province of Nong Khai, and give them full provincial status.
The decision should be good news for the residents of Bung Kan, as there was a strong consensus among local people that they wanted provincial status. Around 98 per cent of Bung Kan residents said that they backed the government's move.
On the surface, the decision makes sense due to logistic reasons. At present, people in Bung Kan have to travel long distances to reach the services provided by the Nong Khai provincial offices.
Provincial status will also boost the pride of local residents, giving them a new chance to empower their communities. The creation of the new province means that residents will have a louder voice to express what they want to see in terms of the development of their districts and neighbourhoods.
In spite of its proximity to its former provincial master, Bung Kan residents may indeed have different needs from those in Nong Khai. Now is the time for them to assert their own leadership and take control of their future. Previously, this Northeastern backwater had lived in the shadow of other districts in growing Nong Khai, which is a medium-sized province.
As the new province is set to receive funding of Bt200 million for initial development, the people of Bung Kan are set to propose ideas for officials to draft new plans for the province. For instance, local authorities may now have more resources to invest in water projects, to alleviate the drought that affects many farmers during the dry season. Bung Kan nevertheless is still full of green rice fields, and has the added strength of a traditional culture and lifestyle that can be developed in a sustainable manner.
In line with the creation of this new province, a sense of empowerment should increase in the rural communities. Although Bung Kan only just qualified for provincial status under the geographical rules for provinces, local people will be glad of the recognition they now have. Full provincial status should give them the resources to explore their full potential.
The socio-economic development of remote provinces is an essential part of the country's development. To date, millions have left their homes upcountry to do menial work in Bangkok and a few other major cities because there are no job opportunities in the provinces. Some have desperately tried to copy the lifestyle model of the big cities, which is not suitable to a traditional rural lifestyle. Some have sold their precious farmland to obtain short-term material gain, which is not sustainable. Some have walked away from their homes because they don't have the pride or will to develop them.
Ultimately, every province should be able to recognise its weaknesses and utilise its strengths in order to become self-reliant. Thailand's newest province must be developed based on local needs, traditions and lifestyles. That's where the concept of sufficiency economy comes into play.