The cabinet has approved members and heads of 11 reform committees following the promulgation of laws on national reform and national strategies, as stipulated by the constitution.
Government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the cabinet yesterday approved 120 members of the reform committees for the total 165 required members. The rest will be appointed later. Each of the 11 committees is responsible for 11 aspects of reform and comprise of no more than 15 members.
The appointed chiefs include: veteran political scientist and politician Anek Laothamatas, who will be in charge of political reform, permanent secretary of interior Grisada Boonrach (public administration), former chief charter drafter Borwornsak Uwanno (law reform), Council of State secretary-general Atchaporn Jarujinda (justice reform) and former Bank of Thailand governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul (economic reform).
The reform committee heads also include water expert Royon Jitdon (natural resources and environment), chief adviser to Public Health minister Seri Tuchinda (public health) PM's Office permanent secretary Jirachai Moontongroy (mass communication and information technology), former agriculture minister Petipong Pungbun Na Ayudhya (social reform), former permanent secretary for energy Pornchai Rujiprapa (energy reform) and former chairman of the National Anti-Corruption Commission Panthep Klanarongran (corruption prevention and suppression).
Each committee will work separately to administer and draft reform plans. All committee plans will be combined to make a national reform plan. Forming a national reform plan will take about eight months and will be completed by April 2018, Lt Gen Sansern said.
Lt Gen Sansern said the committees consist of 20 women, adding that there are also members who are aged under 40 and 30 members who hold doctoral degrees. He also added that civil servants in the committee have been kept to a minimum.
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam has said members of the reform committee will not receive a salary.
They will be given meeting allowances, which are estimated to be within 48,000 baht a month.
