Bangkok: The Deputy Minister of Interior has called for local administrative organizations to reduce bureaucratic procedures, following lessons learned from the recent floods in Nan Province. The emphasis is on reducing paperwork and utilizing existing government information to alleviate the burden on the public.
According to Thai News Agency, the Deputy Minister of Interior, Mr. Worasit Liengprasit, emphasized lessons from the Nan floods, urging local administrative organizations to streamline procedures. He instructed the Department of Local Administration to eliminate redundant documentation, highlighting that the government already possesses the necessary information, which should prevent citizens from the hassle of locating it themselves. The focus is on delivering swift assistance while maintaining transparency.
In the wake of the Nan Province's recovery from flash floods and subsequent inundation, the government has tasked authorities with expediting aid disbursement to flood victims. The Ministry of Interior has directed local administrative organizations to simplify processes and reduce bureaucracy, assuring citizens that they do not need to provide photocopies of documents the government can verify.
Mr. Worasit, overseeing the Department of Local Administration, stated that the Nan floods highlighted the need for the bureaucratic system to reduce the burden on citizens during times of public hardship. Local administrative organizations play a key role in receiving reports, assessing damage, and providing assistance to affected residents.
He stressed the importance of prompt assistance without making citizens undertake unnecessary trips for documents already available to government agencies. As a supervisor, he prioritizes reviewing the processes of local administrative organizations to ensure necessary steps are taken, redundant ones are eliminated, and information is shared appropriately, all while adhering to legal, regulatory, and budgetary guidelines.
The government has increased the emergency fund for flood relief in Nan province by an additional 100 million baht, allowing certain actions outside the established guidelines to provide faster assistance. Mr. Worasit emphasized that these lessons should be applied nationwide to improve local authorities' operational systems in assisting disaster victims.
The National Statistical Office and local administrative organizations should prioritize utilizing existing information, strengthening local organizations as frontline responders, reducing procedural steps while maintaining evidence requirements, and reforming systems to address real-world issues effectively.
Mr. Worasit highlighted that local administrative organizations are closest to the people, emphasizing the need for local development to ease public access to government services. He envisions local authorities as reliable resources during disasters, ensuring citizens receive prompt attention and support without bureaucratic hurdles.
The simplification policy is about shifting the government's mindset to facilitate processes for the public, ensuring assistance reaches people swiftly and efficiently, especially during disasters. This guideline aims to coordinate and instruct local administrative organizations to uphold consistent work standards, simplifying the bureaucratic system and ensuring timely assistance to those in need.