BANGKOK, Dec 29 — Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha said Sunday his government is speeding solutions to the people’s livelihood problems and he is confident that Thailand’s economy will improve in the year ahead.
Denying that the government plans to dissolve local administrative organisations, Gen Prayut said his government is now busy with finding ways for poor people to make a living and reducing the high cost of living for the people because he realises that most people are not happy with the rising cost of living.
“I personally believe that general economy will improve in 2015,” said Gen Prayut, adding that he is worried about low-income earners and that he is finding ways to assist them.
Touching on Article 44 of the current Constitution giving power to him as leader of the National Council for Peace and Order in taking action in every situation, Gen Prayut said he would exercise the power only when necessary and in constructive ways.
At present, Gen Prayut said, he has never thought of using it.
In another related development, spokeswoman Duangkamol Jiambutr said the Commerce Ministry has assigned provincial commerce ministry offices nationwide, especially in rice growing provinces, to persuade farmers to switch to growing organic rice whose price is now over Bt70 per kilogramme.
If carried out by farmers, the switch would match the government’s plan to improve the quality of Thai rice and would also help push up the prices of agricultural products in the country, Ms Duangkamol added.
