In the morning of 15th July - Bee, Soot (video maker), woman from local NGO and I go with headwoman to pay a courtesy visit to the District Officer at District Office.
We are ushered into his large office w AC (and windows slightly open). Large tv and comfy seating area. Glasses of sweet flat drink are served on little glass coasters and crocheted doilies. Computer with plastic hood on - evidently unused. 12 rubber stamps on a carousel on his desk.
Woman from NGO introduces her project. Purpose: to equip villagers to be able to budget, analyse their incomings and outgoings, help them see where they could make savings. (Apparently debt is a problem in KRTT). KRTT selected as pilot area .
This type of project ‘back to the villages, back to self sufficiency’ supported by the King. District Officer grandly promises support and co-ordination with community leaders in order to let everyone knows about it. Headwoman tells him that Director General of Dept of Environmental Quality Promotion visiting KRTT in September, and they will need to plan for this. As soon as headwoman starts talking District Officer picks up newspaper and starts reading it.
I explain via Bee what I am interested in. District Officer patently does not understand and says go to Isaan if you want to know about migration. He mentions ‘alternative employment’ in a long speech he has evidently made before. I pounce on this and ask via Bee what his office is doing to promote alternative employment in the area. He flounders about elephants – people are like elephants, they both need the natural resources of the area. Bee looks confused – should I translate? No. He then goes on about how an elephant festival in another area has been very successful. Bee keeps gamely trying my question but he obviously doesn’t have an answer. Others are trying not to laugh and /or secretly looking at the paper themselves. He bangs on for 10 mins more then we politely take our leave. Outside everyone laughs – shouldn’t expect anything else - but also a little embarrassed that their local govt so hopeless.
We are ushered into his large office w AC (and windows slightly open). Large tv and comfy seating area. Glasses of sweet flat drink are served on little glass coasters and crocheted doilies. Computer with plastic hood on - evidently unused. 12 rubber stamps on a carousel on his desk.
Woman from NGO introduces her project. Purpose: to equip villagers to be able to budget, analyse their incomings and outgoings, help them see where they could make savings. (Apparently debt is a problem in KRTT). KRTT selected as pilot area .
This type of project ‘back to the villages, back to self sufficiency’ supported by the King. District Officer grandly promises support and co-ordination with community leaders in order to let everyone knows about it. Headwoman tells him that Director General of Dept of Environmental Quality Promotion visiting KRTT in September, and they will need to plan for this. As soon as headwoman starts talking District Officer picks up newspaper and starts reading it.
I explain via Bee what I am interested in. District Officer patently does not understand and says go to Isaan if you want to know about migration. He mentions ‘alternative employment’ in a long speech he has evidently made before. I pounce on this and ask via Bee what his office is doing to promote alternative employment in the area. He flounders about elephants – people are like elephants, they both need the natural resources of the area. Bee looks confused – should I translate? No. He then goes on about how an elephant festival in another area has been very successful. Bee keeps gamely trying my question but he obviously doesn’t have an answer. Others are trying not to laugh and /or secretly looking at the paper themselves. He bangs on for 10 mins more then we politely take our leave. Outside everyone laughs – shouldn’t expect anything else - but also a little embarrassed that their local govt so hopeless.
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