BANGKOK, 21 June 2015 – The ombudsman will be suggesting the procedures on sustainable drought management to the government, and will meet with the public to help resolve inequalities issues and ensure that the public has access to governmental services.
Chief Ombudsman Siracha Vongsarayankura has said that the Office of the Ombudsman is currently gathering suggestions on drought management to be submitted to the government and related agencies, in the wake of widespread complaints made regarding water shortage and the numerous requests for compensation.
The office has also received complaints that some people were missing from the list naming those affected by the drought. This has diminished equality in aid provisions. There were also reports of sluggish aiding processes of the agencies, suspicious processing, and problems regarding impractical aid projects.
Suggestions to the government will be made from the information gathered by related agencies such as the Royal Irrigation Department, the Department of Water Resources, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, and the Department of Groundwater Resources on their policies and obstacles to performance on drought-related operations.
The survey will include findings from the affected public’s request for help, participation, and other needs. This survey will be compiled into a research that will enhance the government’s operations.
The Chief Ombudsman has added that the office is willing to support the government’s policies in may areas such as resolving social inequalities, ensuring public to access governmental services, and to maximize good governance in all areas of the country.
He has said that the public should be more aware to the role of the ombudsman in promoting morals and encouraging good governance in public agencies. Once the people’s rights to file complaints are ensured, a quick solution will return the happiness to the people.
