Over 33 per cent of children are ‘disadvantaged’

[rooster59]

Over 33 per cent of children are ‘disadvantaged’

By The Nation

 

 

MORE THAN one in three children in Thailand are in disadvantaged groups, Mental Health Department’s director-general, Dr Squadron-Leader Boonruang Triruangworawat said yesterday.

 

“Of 13.82 million children [below 18 years of age], at least 5 million are underprivileged,” Boonruang said. 

 

He said 80 per cent of underprivileged children were financially poor and about six per cent were from multi-ethnic groups and without rights to state-provided healthcare services. 

 

Agencies that extended medical services to these children would have to foot the bill themselves, he pointed out. The not-too flattering figures were released a day ahead of National Children’s Day, which will be celebrated across the country today. Every year, Thailand celebrates Children’s Day on the second Saturday of January.

 

Boonruang also disclosed that up to 220,842 children in Thailand had intellectual disabilities or autism. 

 

He added that just 5.59 per cent of the multi-ethnic children and those who were intellectually challenged could access healthcare services. 

“Of them, just 25.33 per cent have had access to education,” he said. 

 

Boonruang said their lack of opportunities also hurt the country, depriving it of otherwise quality human resources. 

 

He said his department had implemented a project to develop a healthcare system for intellectually challenged children between 2013 and 2015. During the period, the project found that about 91.4 per cent of intellectually challenged students had oral-health problems in 2014.

“In 2015, the percentage of those having oral-health problems dropped sharply to 90.7,” he said. 

 

Rajanukul Institute director Amporn Benjaponpitak said it was necessary to develop children because they were the foundation of the country. “We need to do more to address children’s problems,” she said. She also lamented that inequalities still prevailed in children’s care. 

 

“So, it’s best to start promoting equality today,” Amporn said. 

 

Boonruang said that this year his agency would take an integrated approach in ensuring that children with intellectual disabilities gain access to healthcare support. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30336123

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-01-13

[PatOngo]

17 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

"So, it’s best to start promoting equality today,” Amporn said. 

 

"Let's give them all a Richard Mille watch, maybe then they'll feel more equal!"

[JAG]

"Multi Ethnic" is no doubt code speak for "hill tribe".
It is a disgrace that so many hill tribe children have little or no access to health or education provision. Many of them come from communities that have lived in Thailand for generations, yet have never been recognised or given nationality, and with it those all important documents which allows such access.

Sent from my KENNY using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Thian]

5 minutes ago, JAG said:

"Multi Ethnic" is no doubt code speak for "hill tribe".
It is a disgrace that so many hill tribe children have little or no access to health or education provision. Many of them come from communities that have lived in Thailand for generations, yet have never been recognised or given nationality, and with it those all important documents which allows such access.

Sent from my KENNY using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

Do the hilltribes also pay tax?

[greenchair]

I agree with the 6 percent that do not have rights due to their statelessness. I'm not seeing the 80 percent underprivileged story though. on the grand scale of things thai children are well cared for. Low income yes. Poor and underprivileged  no. 

All thai children have access to free healthcare, free education, all books, uniforms and school lunch is free. School milk is free. There are plenty of government housing projects and anyone can go to the temple at 11 o'clock everyday to recieve free food.  All have food, clothing and shelter. In fact thailand now has a problem with obese children from being fed too much. 

There are a lot of abandoned and abused kids. That is a bad parenting issue. 

We can't all have a Mercedes benz.

 

[sanemax]

6 minutes ago, JAG said:

"Multi Ethnic" is no doubt code speak for "hill tribe".
It is a disgrace that so many hill tribe children have little or no access to health or education provision. Many of them come from communities that have lived in Thailand for generations, yet have never been recognised or given nationality, and with it those all important documents which allows such access.

Most hill-tribe people have been given Thai Nationality and the hilltribe villages do have free Schools and health care , most of the stateless people are those whose Parents fled from neighboring Countries and the cildren (now adults) have no proof of being born in Thailand .

   If people can prove that they were born in Thailand and went to school there and lived all their life there, they usually get given Thai I.D

[greatwhitenorth]

2 minutes ago, Thian said:

Do the hilltribes also pay tax?

 Do the vendors at the market in the city you live in?  Do any children pay tax? 

 

Do you think anyone who is classified as disadvantage in a country with an average income of $500 pay tax?

 

The question you should be asking is How do I stay alive when I have no heart?

 

 

[greatwhitenorth]

2 minutes ago, greenchair said:

I agree with the 6 percent that do not have rights due to their statelessness. I'm not seeing the 80 percent underprivileged story though. on the grand scale of things thai children are well cared for. Low income yes. Poor and underprivileged  no. 

All thai children have access to free healthcare, free education, all books, uniforms and school lunch is free. School milk is free. There are plenty of government housing projects and anyone can go to the temple at 11 o'clock everyday to recieve free food.  All have food, clothing and shelter. In fact thailand now has a problem with obese children from being fed too much. 

There are a lot of abandoned and abused kids. That is a bad parenting issue. 

We can't all have a Mercedes benz.

 

 

Do you ever leave your privileged expat compound and walk amongst the villagers?  

[sanemax]

26 minutes ago, Thian said:

Do the hilltribes also pay tax?

Do you think that poor hill tribe kids should not be given an education, healthcare , running water and basic to survive because their parents do not have jobs that pay taxes ?

[greatwhitenorth]

38 minutes ago, sanemax said:

Most hill-tribe people have been given Thai Nationality and the hilltribe villages do have free Schools and health care , most of the stateless people are those whose Parents fled from neighboring Countries and the cildren (now adults) have no proof of being born in Thailand .

   If people can prove that they were born in Thailand and went to school there and lived all their life there, they usually get given Thai I.D

There is little hope among the stateless people in Thailand (estimated to be 3.5 million), as the few legal rights they have are not understood, and new laws intended to smooth the pathway to Thai citizenship are never truly implemented. Corruption and discrimination within Thai governmental district offices create further blockades. Racism and prejudice also run rampant within the admissions offices of schools and institutions of higher education. Enrollment forms demand Thai nationality IDs, even though laws have passed supposedly granting access to all. 

Due to their statelessness, children are denied entrance into classrooms and are unable to receive a K-12 formal education. Even those whose parents enroll them into “free” schools operated by non-governmental organizations do not ordinarily make it far in their education. They are often removed from school around third or fourth grade by their parents, who either put them to work or sell them. Most parents do not recognize the importance of education, since their children, due to statelessness, will never be able to work legally or go to college, even with a high school diploma. Access to a college education is an impossibility. 

http://www.thethailandproject.org/who-we-help-stateless

3.5 million people, that is a lot of people to ignore and they don t seem to be going away. If you have been to the far north or far west you realize they are here only to be exploited.

[sanemax]

10 minutes ago, greatwhitenorth said:

Due to their statelessness, children are denied entrance into classrooms and are unable to receive a K-12 formal education.

That isnt correct .

Stateless Children have the legal right to remain in Thailand and they are legally required to enroll and attend Schools up until 16 years old , upon completion of schooling and with proof of being born in Thailand, they would them be eligible to apply for and to receive Thai I.D and citizenship and therefore be able to attend higher education

[marginline]

So that means 67% are "advantaged"!

Heck! That's even better than the "glass half full"; "glass half empty" analogy.

[greatwhitenorth]

2 minutes ago, sanemax said:

That isnt correct .

Stateless Children have the legal right to remain in Thailand and they are legally required to enroll and attend Schools up until 16 years old , upon completion of schooling and with proof of being born in Thailand, they would them be eligible to apply for and to receive Thai I.D and citizenship and therefore be able to attend higher education

Yes it is.

 

You should probably let them know that and the NGO's that are there helping them. Having a legal right and being able to exercise it are two different things.  

 

The other thing is that being stateless and being able to prove that you are born in Thailand are mutually exclusive.  

 

 

[sanemax]

1 minute ago, greatwhitenorth said:

Yes it is.

You should probably let them know that and the NGO's that are there helping them. Having a legal right and being able to exercise it are two different things.  

The other thing is that being stateless and being able to prove that you are born in Thailand are mutually exclusive.  

 

I do have stateless family members living in villages in the north and the three stateless kids are all in School and the other older one , who was stateless , received Thai I.D when he turned 16 .

   These days , all kids born in Thailand get issued with Birth certificates , showing Thailand as birth place . 

   Previously , many of the kids, now adults , were born on the living room floor with just the local midwife in assistance and the births were not officially registered, hence they cannot prove that they were born in Thailand .

   Prayruth recently announced that all stateless kids will be given Thai I.D and statelessness in Thailand will end in the future

   

[JAG]

2 hours ago, Thian said:

Do the hilltribes also pay tax?

John, Chapter 11, Verse 35

[Moonlover]

4 minutes ago, JAG said:

Do the hilltribes also pay tax?

 

4 minutes ago, JAG said:

John, Chapter 11, Verse 35

You'll have to be a little more forthcoming than that!

[sanemax]

1 minute ago, Moonlover said:

 

You'll have to be a little more forthcoming than that!

Quite possibly a Bible reference which could be easily googled ?

[Chris Lawrence]

2 hours ago, Thian said:

Do the hilltribes also pay tax?

Yes, when they go and buy items. 

[sanemax]

There must be some cases of rich old ferang guys in Thailand, and for once , because its so cold , that they can turn their air con off , sitting at home and reading about poor kids in the mountains , who are under nourished and cold and begrudge those kids getting free blankets and milk .

  "Schools ?" "If their parents dont pay tax , they shouldnt be allowed to go to Schools"

[Chris Lawrence]

Sometimes it is worth while to hop off the bar stool and go and have a look for yourself. Talk to the locals, as they are your hosts and are normally very happy to chat with you. 

 

Nothing so scary when the alarm goes off when a child is stolen. I heard it once in my stay in Chiang Rai. 

 

Most Thais are happy to accept their place in life and don't live an exorbitant life style: hence their kids get by. But as in most third world conditions, does the Government need to improve the next generation of labour or have a nice 1st class train travel/submarine/new tanks/planes. 

 

There are many TV members that get about with the locals and understand the problems faced.

[Chris Lawrence]

1 minute ago, sanemax said:

There must be some cases of rich old ferang guys in Thailand, and for once , because its so cold , that they can turn their air con off , sitting at home and reading about poor kids in the mountains , who are under nourished and cold and begrudge those kids getting free blankets and milk .

  "Schools ?" "If their parents dont pay tax , they shouldnt be allowed to go to Schools"

Then again some people without brains should never be educated, as they show wealthy countries in a bad light.

[Moonlover]

23 minutes ago, sanemax said:

Quite possibly a Bible reference which could be easily googled ?

If I had any interest in a bible quote I would do so. But I don't, so I won't. I don't often read fiction.

[Orton Rd]

Most children going to state School are automatically disadvantaged 

[Moonlover]

I wonder. It's a personal notion of course, but could the term 'disadvantaged child' be extended to any child who, instead of being brought up by his or her parents, is dumped on an aging and largely incompetent and disinterested relative?

 

I do recognize that it is often a case of economic necessity. But none the less, it is my opinion the a child who deprived of 'hands on' parenting will always be disadvantaged. And that would a apply many, many children in this country.

 

[yellowboat]

8 hours ago, rooster59 said:

“So, it’s best to start promoting equality today,” Amporn said. 

A noble idea in a place where some are far more equal than others. 

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

7 hours ago, Thian said:

Do the hilltribes also pay tax?

Less than 5 million Thais are registered for tax and less than a million pay tax. So whats your argument about?

[RichardColeman]

9 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Over 33 per cent of children are ‘disadvantaged’

Take it the other 67% have parents in positions that help fund the Thai envelope business. 

[greenchair]

8 hours ago, greatwhitenorth said:

 

Do you ever leave your privileged expat compound and walk amongst the villagers?  

Quite frankly I don't see myself being any different. I work 7 days and 3 nights a week to pay for my son's education. Most days we have to choose between food or petrol. And quite often we live on fried egg and rice. We ride a motorbike in the rain to get my kid to school. We, so far have had 3 accidents, 1 serious. Before that, I sat on the bus for 2 hours morning and afternoon to work and school. Everyone struggles to make ends meet. My post did mention, I accepted 6 percent were underprivileged. But you are right they are not thai. 

It's important to distinguish the 2. 

Thai children are not disadvantaged at all. 

Village people that are not thai are disadvantaged. 

[Hayduke]

8 hours ago, sanemax said:

Most hill-tribe people have been given Thai Nationality and the hilltribe villages do have free Schools and health care , most of the stateless people are those whose Parents fled from neighboring Countries and the cildren (now adults) have no proof of being born in Thailand .

   If people can prove that they were born in Thailand and went to school there and lived all their life there, they usually get given Thai I.D

 

Someone might mention this to Mong Thongdee...the (Thai born) young man of Burmese descent who, a few years back, won a national competition designing paper airplanes. Amid much talk he was finally given a temporary passport to compete in Japan. He competed successfully, returned home to more much talk, and once the lights died down....was unceremoniously kicked to the Thai nationality curb.

[Genmai]

5 hours ago, Chris Lawrence said:

Yes, when they go and buy items. 

Let's take your argument seriously:

As a wealthy foreigner compared to hill-tribe people I have infinitely more spending power and as such contribute a much greater amount of money to the Thai economy. Let's imagine that I disregarded Thai law and immigrated here illegally. By your reasoning I and my family should be entitled to Thai taxpayer-funded social programs simply by the virtue of being a consumer in the country. Do you believe that this should be the case?

 

I have seen the dire state of hill tribes and their poverty-stricken existence. The problem is that a nation and its laws should primarily be in the interests of its law-abiding taxpaying citizens. Thailand is surrounded on all sides by large swathes of jungle where people live like they are in the stone ages. Legitimizing the divergence of state funds to these people and freely handing out Thai citizenship to them might solve a short-term problem but it would also send a strong message to the poor and downtrodden folk in neighbouring countries. This would a)- open the floodgates for masses of undocumented migrants (which for all your talk of egalitarianism would be regarded as a highly unpopular policy by Thais) and b)- remove any incentive for neighbouring nations to care for their poor and downtrodden if they know that a wealthy neighbour can take them in and distribute handouts to them. How can you justify your desire to impose this huge burden onto the society of Thai taxpayers? Or are you willing to personally pay for the betterment of these hill tribes from your own pocket?

 

Having said all that, I should note that by my own observations some hill tribe people are hard-working and industrious when they aren't dragged down by alcoholism or drug abuse. Thai society can certainly benefit from integrating these individuals into the work-force but that is a delicate process that should be done slowly in a tentative manner. However your assertion that anyone who buys stuff here is entitled to this is ludicrous, especially since a)- these people really don't have all that much money to spend, and b)- it is highly unlikely that they spend it at registered Thai establishments.