THE PARTICIPATION OF THE ELDERLY IN DRIVEN ECONOMIC FOUNDATIONS AND CIVIL STATE POLICIES IN MAETHA DISTRICT, LAMPANG PROVINCE

Abstract

              This research had the objectives to study participation and factors affecting the participation of the elderly in driving foundation economy and civil state policies in Maetha district, Lampang province.  The population living in Maetha district 10,399 persons using as sample   370 persons. The research tools consisted of a questionnaire, an observation form, an interview form and focus group recording form, using the descriptive statistics to describe the characteristics of the data consisted of frequency, percentage, means and standard deviation. For the data from the interview form, the observation form and the focus group recording form concerning participation and factors affecting participation of the elderly in driving foundation economy and civil state policies were analyzed for contents matters and descriptive frequencies.

                The research findings revealed most of the elderly were female ages between 60-64 years; the marital status was married; the educational level was primary school education; domiciled in Nakroa sub-district; average monthly income was lower than 10,000 Baht; the main occupation was agriculture and most had lived in the community more than 36 years. The foundation economy and civil state policies projects they had participation in the operations were agricultural projects with the overall picture of the participation at the medium level (=2.81). When considered partly, ranking from high to low means, it was found that participation in receiving benefits (=2.90), participation in thoughts and creative thinking (=2.84), participation in decision making (=2.80), participation in working operations (=2.80) and participation in following-up, evaluation and responsibility (=2.73).

                Factors affecting participation of the elderly in driving foundation economy and civil state policies in Maetha district, Lampang province were 1) personnel factor consisted of behaviors of the officials and participation in the activities 2) community factors such as the process of opening the opportunity for feedback, providing facts and opinions for decisions ,making starting from what the villagers know and developing from what were available in the community and 3) factor of government agencies and organization driving the policies consisted of accepting and listening to the people, working in stages, adjusting the roles in work operations, flexible rules and regulations including finding other supporting factors by organizing activities or doing projects covering the mental, material, social and political parts in accord with the livelihood of the elderly.