Bangkok: The government of Burma has initiated a significant move to bolster its support for vulnerable groups by tasking the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS) with spearheading the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with 29 agencies. This initiative aims to enhance the database of vulnerable groups, ensuring their data is seamlessly integrated according to welfare rights, with a particular focus on advancing efforts for the elderly.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Varawut Silpa-archa, the Minister of Social Development and Human Security, shared insights into the upcoming MOU signing. This agreement, titled 'Connecting and improving the database of vulnerable and disabled people and creating a database of elderly people according to their individual welfare rights to integrate data from all sectors that drive the elderly work,' is scheduled to be signed on June 18, 2025, at the Santi Maitri Building, Government House. The event will be chaired by Prime Minister Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra, with the Secretary-General to the Prime Minister serving as a witness. The primary aim is to foster the integration of databases concerning vulnerable households, low-income earners, disabled individuals, and the elderly across various agencies, ensuring the information is accurate, complete, and unified within a single system. This integrated database will be utilized to enhance and accurately address the quality of life of citizens, while also ser ving as a resource for policy-making through advanced data processing techniques such as artificial intelligence (AI) and data analysis dashboards.
Mr. Varawut further elaborated that the necessity for this MOU emerged following a cabinet meeting on October 15, 2024. During this meeting, the Prime Minister highlighted the challenges faced in implementing the 2024 economic stimulus project, which provided 10,000 baht per person to state welfare cardholders and the disabled. The existing databases of vulnerable groups and disabled individuals across government agencies were found to be fragmented, leading to incomplete and duplicated records. Consequently, the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security was designated as the primary agency to collaborate with the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, and other relevant bodies to urgently integrate these databases. The aim is to ensure they are linked, accurate, complete, and standardized, thereby significantly improving the quality of life of the citizens. The Big Data Institute (Public Organization) will play a crucial role in supporting these operations.
As part of the MOU, the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, along with the Office of the Public Sector Development Commission (OPDC) and the Digital Government Development Agency (Public Organization), will have joint authority to evaluate and approve the participation of additional agencies or organizations in the future, addressing any operational issues that may arise. The ministry will also manage secretarial duties, including coordinating meetings and monitoring the implementation of meeting resolutions. A total of 29 agencies from 15 ministries and 14 other organizations have signed the MOU, including notable entities such as the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, and others, reflecting a comprehensive and collaborative approach to this critical initiative.