Abstract:
The study purpose was to study the process of community planning,
community participation, and obstacles and other problems encountered in community
planning, by using quality research methodology in the Thang yao Village community,
Village No.8, Khlong Khway Sub-district , SamKhok District , Pathum Thani
Province , and by using in-depth interviewing with structural questionnaires and
informal interviewing, including participative observation. Target groups were village
committees, house group leaders, organization group leaders of the village, and the
related government officer.
Results found that: The process of community planning in Thang yao
village had 4 phases: 1) community analysis, 2) planning, 3) operation, and 4)
followup and evaluation. Community planning was divided into an autarkic or selfsufficient
plan, a cooperation plan, and a support requesting plan. During the
community analysis phase, villagers participated to develop the community plan at a
high strategic level by becoming informed about problems and their requirements, and
rearranging the priority of problems. In the community planning phase, villagers used
meetings to let most villagers participate to determine targets, visions, and community
projects. In the operation plase, a community leader became the coordinator who
joined with the supporting government agencies. Villagers attended to process the
activities, and applied to become members of the projects. And in the followup and
evaluation phase, villagers participated in the community planning at the most detailed
level. Mostly, community leaders were persons who followed and reported. Problems
and obstacles encountered in community planning were: lack of readiness preparation,
a low consideration for the priority of problems, unclear target determination and an
unclear path for development. In addition, accordance analysis of the project was
unclear, the responsibility in duty roles was insufficient, and participation in follow up
and evaluation was low. Thus related government officers should encourage the
community analysis process to analyze the importance of community planning, adjust
the plan annually, and integrate the plan with the government agencies in valued in the
area.