BUDDHIST INTEGRATION FOR PROMOTING PEOPLE’S PARTICIPATION IN PLAN FORMULATION FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OF MUANG KANCHANABURI CITY MUNICIPALITY AT MUANG DISTRICT IN KANCHANABURI PROVINCE

Abstract

This research article had the following objectives: 1. To study the level of public participation in the formulation of local development plans of Muang Kanchanaburi City Municipality, Muang District, Kanchanaburi Province. 2. To compare the levels of public participation in local development plan formulation in the aforementioned area, classified by personal factors. 3. To propose a Buddhist integration approach to promote public participation in the formulation of local development plans. The study employed a mixed methods research design. The quantitative research collected data from a sample of 393 individuals using questionnaires. The data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation, as well as t-tests and one-way ANOVA. The qualitative research involved in-depth interviews with 15 key informants The data were analyzed using descriptive content interpretation.

The findings revealed that 1. The overall level of public participation in the formulation of local development plans was at high level (=4.31, S.D.=0.50). Among the four aspects assessed, benefit received had the highest average score, followed by implementation, evaluation, and decision-making, respectively. 2. Public participation analyzed by personal factors was found that there were no significant differences by gender. However, there were statistically significant differences at the 0.01 level based on age, marital status, education level, occupation, and income. 3. The integration of Aparihaniyadhamma to promote public participation in local development plan formulation involved incorporating Buddhist moral principles into the process. This approach emphasized regular meetings, respect for community consensus, listening to elders, respect for women’s rights, and protection of religious sites and monks. Integrating the Seven Aparihaniyadhamma into the planning process-while ensuring opportunities for citizen participation at every stage-can enhance transparency and fairness, ultimately leading to sustainable local development in Muang Kanchanaburi City Municipality.