ปัญหาและอุปสรรคของการนำโครงการบัตรสวัสดิการแห่งรัฐไปปฏิบัติในพื้นที่อำเภอเมืองแม่ฮ่องสอน

Abstract

This qualitative research focuses on the implementation of the state welfare card policy and the role of the government sectors in implementing the policy in the Mueang Mae Hong Son District, Mae Hong Son Province. Mae Hong Son Province is a special area due to poverty, inequality, spatial constraints that make the area difficult to travel, as well as language and ethnic diversity, which may limit policy implementation. The data is accumulated through interviews and the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) method from 92 samples. The informants are divided into four groups: government officers responsible for policy implementation, Civil State Blue Flag Shop owners, village headmen, and citizens both with and without a state welfare card. The information is analyzed and discussed through the concepts of public policy, social welfare, the welfare state, and the civil state. The result shows that the implementation of the welfare card policy in the area of Mueang Mae Hong Son District encountered four key issues: (1) Due to spatial constraints, many citizens with welfare cards must travel inconveniently to the district center to use the card. (2) The products in , Civil State Blue Flag Shops are insufficient, and there are only a few Civil State Blue Flag Shops in the area. Moreover, the products in Civil State Blue Flag Shops are mostly from capitalist companies instead of supporting local businesses. (3) The illegal misuse of the welfare card; and (4) the lack of public communication and facilitation from the government. Since the government has been trying to use various social welfare policy implementations, especially the state welfare card project, they appear to be the Residual Model of Welfare. The government focuses on filtering low-income or vulnerable groups of people in society by using an online registration system with local government sector consideration. The policies raise the concern that they may cause welfare dependency and discourage workers. Moreover, there’s no good tax system that can support social welfare policies financially. Through the determination of rules, conditions, and operational guidelines, the policy implementation shows the beneficial relationship between the government and the capitalist enterprises while neglecting the local business entrepreneurs. In conclusion, the policies will not sustainably solve poverty and the poor quality of life among Thai citizens. In order to develop the citizens' overall well-being, the government must reform the welfare system. The social welfare policy and its implementation need to be revised, as well as focus on solving poverty efficiently and sustainably by distributing infrastructure, income, education, and the public health system equally.