ผลกระทบของการระงับเหมืองแร่ทองคำต่อคุณภาพชีวิตของประชาชนในชุมชนเขาเจ็ดลูก จังหวัดพิจิตร

Abstract

The study "Impact of Gold Mine Suspend on Quality of Life Among People in Khao Chet Luk Community, Pichit Province"aimed to examine life quality related with residence, economy, society, environment and sanitary of people in Khao Chet Look Community, Pichit Province, and to study changes in the quality of life after suspension of gold mine in Pichit Province. This study used qualitative research method in data collection. 11 people (five males and six females) selected from the sampled Khao Chet Look Community members are selected for in-depth interview. The interviewed were 64.9 years old on average. Most age between 27 - 86 years. Education of the sampled interviewees ranged between primary school to high vocational. Most worked as traders and farmers and still continued their original works. The sampled group lived in extended families, usually with children. Most houses were half-wood and half-concrete. They originated from the area and its surrounding areas.Study of the life quality of Khao Chet Look Community revealed that life quality before suspension of the gold mine, related with residence was high. This was similar to economic, social, environment and sanitary aspects. Nevertheless, suspension of the gold mine resulted in life quality in most aspects (residence, social, economic, and social) dropping to low while environmental quality was rated average. The study indicated that after suspension of the gold mine, three aspects of life quality significantly dropped (economic, social, residence), while environmental and sanitary quality were likely to drop. The researcher suggests that, if possible, the gold mind suspension should be reconsidered, or there should be measures to alleviate impact from the gold mine. If the gold mine operation is to be resumed, the stakeholders should have measures to take care of people in overlapping or polluted areas through lecturing and appropriate protective/ alleviative measures. Representatives of the community or local administration agencies should be allowed into the decision-making process that might impact the community.