Prachin Buri: Ms. Jiraporn Sindhuphrai, Minister to the Prime Minister's Office, presided over the opening ceremony of the "Prachinburi Village Fund Gathering" at the Prachinburi Provincial Volunteer Defense Corps Company 1 Headquarters. The event was attended by Mr. Wiraphan De-on, Prachinburi Governor, Mr. Wichit Khrueasuk, Deputy Director of the Village and Urban Community Fund Office, Mr. Boonsri Chanchai, Chairman of the Prachinburi Village Fund Network Committee, and other key stakeholders.
According to Thai News Agency, the Village and Urban Community Fund, established in 2001 during the government of Dr. Thaksin Shinawatra, continues to receive support under the leadership of Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra. This initiative aims to boost the community's potential and improve living standards by facilitating job and career creation, income distribution, and strengthening the local economy. The fund's goal is to alleviate poverty by providing financial resources to create jobs or address urgent issues.
Ms. Jiraporn expressed her satisfaction with the village fund network's performance in Prachin Buri Province. She praised the sustained impact of the fund over the past two decades on the grassroots economy. She also announced the upcoming SML project, set to launch in the first quarter of 2025, which aims to distribute approximately 11 billion baht to communities nationwide. This initiative emphasizes empowering communities to decide how to allocate funds, promoting self-development and decentralizing decision-making power.
During the event, Ms. Jiraporn presented certificates of honor to 21 outstanding village funds and projects, recognizing efforts in line with the provincial level Pracharat approach. The Ban Khon Kwang Community Financial Institution, a recipient of the Outstanding Fund Award, was highlighted for its exemplary fund management, resulting in current savings exceeding 100 million baht.
The SML project budget allocation, starting in early 2025, requires funds to be registered as juristic persons, submit financial statements for the last two years, and have an active village committee. Projects must align with villagers' needs, determined through community meetings.