'Because Phra Nakhon district is my home, I still want to continue doing this duty. How could I trust the people from somewhere else to do the job? They don't even know the way of life of people here. Those civil servants come and go. As for us, born and raised here, we won't move away."
That was how Sutipong Tanagoses, 61, a Phra Nakhon district councillor, explains why he thought district councils and their members are still important.
Anukul Savatamarn, 39, another Phra Nakhon district councillor, said: "It's been an honour for me and my family. I think it's because of my dedication to volunteering in my community [that has earned me the opportunity to become a district councillor]. So, I'm determined to continue volunteering with or without the (district councillor's) position."
had their day: The National Reform Steering Committee (NRSC) suggests the government dissolve district councilors, saying they serve political parties more than people.
They were commenting on a proposal by the National Reform Steering Committee (NRSC) to dissolve district councillors, the elected representatives representing 50 districts in Bangkok.
The title of district councillor, locally known as Sor Kor might not be familiar to many Bangkok residents. Yet the role and future of district councillors has emerged as a hot topic of debate.
The debate is expected to continue as the Interior Ministry revises the local administration laws to hold local elections in Bangkok and localities across the country some time next year.
If the ministry accepts the NRSC proposal, the position of district councillors which has existed for three decades will be scrapped. Some NRSC members argued that district councillors were no longer necessary and that they serve as mere canvassers for the politicians.
NRSC's members said axing district councillors would not undermine the democratic rights of Bangkok voters because they already have opportunities to elect their own governor and city councillors.
NRSC recommended a "district community council" be formed in 50 districts as a replacement. District community councils would comprise 20 members from various professions and community representatives. Twenty members would be appointed by the BMA's district directors.
But for their supporters, district councillors are vital for community development. Coming from the district they represent, these councillors know about the specific problems in each community because they have close ties with local people.
Mr Sutipong serves as an excellent example of the bond between district councillors and communities.
Having served four terms as a district councillor, Mr Sutipong was elected to the position for the first time in 1995 and the most recent election he won was in 2010.
The fourth term ended in 2014 when the coup took place. The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) deferred all elections in the country.
Mr Sutipong's local political career began when a Bangkok councillor from the Democratic Party invited his father, also a community leader of Wat Mai Amatarot community in Bang Khun Phrom, to run for the district council election in Phra Nakhon district.
But the father thought he was too old for the race and asked the Bangkok councillor if he was interested in Mr Sutipong instead, who at that time was a vendor at the famous Chatuchak market.
The Bangkok councillor then ordered a background check on him, said Mr Sutipong.
"When he was certain I was suitable for the election, I was picked and fielded in the race. And I won it," said Mr Sutipong.
share your voice: Local students do their part in promoting local participation in democratic processes by encouraging residents to vote for district councillors in their communities.
Mr Anukul, too, grew up in the Wat Mai Amatarot community. And because he was highly active in the community's voluntary work, he met Mr Sutipong often when they attended functions.
When he felt really ready to run in a district councillor election, Mr Anukul accepted an invitation by Mr Sutipong to enter the race in the same team in 2010. He won in his first race.
"Before that, I was a rescue volunteer for numerous years, helping the people in the community solve various problems ranging from putting out fires to catching snakes which had strayed into people's homes," he said.
There were seven members in the Phra Nakhon district councillor team, said Mr Anukul.
They took turns visiting people in the community every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9am until 5pm, he said.
In every community visit, the councillors were wearing a team shirt bearing their names, positions and parties they were with, he said.
During each visit, the team leader used a megaphone to let people know they were there.
"We travelled on foot greeting passers-by, talked to them and took their complaints about problems they want help with," said Mr Anukul.
Common gripes include complaints about tap water no longer running, blackouts, poor waste and rubbish management, polluted water and drugs, he said.
District councillors compiled and forwarded the matters to organisations concerned, he said.
"We normally visit about 500 households each time, and hand out material supplied by the district office," he said.
"We knew they (district officials) had enough on their plate, so we thought we could help them out and volunteered to do it for them," said Mr Anukul.
Aside from delivering handouts, district councillors were also required to keep a record of what is given to whom at each location and submit a report about it to the district office, he said.
Mosquito fogging appeared to be the most common type of work the councillors arrange for communities, he said.
District councilors weren't supposed to do the mosquito control work by themselves. They only help coordinate mosquito fogging and lend a hand to the trained staff, who permitted them to learn how to use the fogging machine, he said.
"Sometimes, when they do not have enough staff, we fill in for them," said Mr Anukul.
Vaccinating dogs and cats against rabies every April and May was another important task, he said.
The vaccination is actually the duty of the Health Department of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration; but as it turned out, it was inconvenient for many cat and dog owners in the communities.
Apparently, it was too difficult for them to take their pets to the department on the appointed date and wait in a line for service, he said.
The councillor team tried to help by requesting health officials to teach them how to administer the rabies vaccine themselves, and the department agreed.
"So, we were involved in mosquito control and giving cats and dogs rabies vaccines too," he said.
After the NCPO deferred the councillor elections, mosquito fogging and administration of rabies vaccines suffered a small decline.
"When we are no longer district councillors, coordinating these tasks might not be as successful. Those civil servants who we used to know moved away and were replaced by newcomers, which makes it difficult for us to request to use their devices," he said.
That, however, hasn't held them back from continuing to serve the communities, he said.
"We've pooled money to purchase mosquito fogging machines so we can continue doing the job in every community of Phra Nakhon district as we used to do when we were councillors," he said.
District councillors elsewhere might rely heavily on Bangkok councillors from the same party, but he and Mr Sutipong were not like that, said Mr Anukul.
He said he only sought advice from his party on some occasions when necessary and appropriate.
He admitted that it might be true that some district councillors served as canvassers for politicians. However, that has never happened in Phra Nakhon district.
"No matter what, we won't stop serving the people in Phra Nakhon district, who we regard almost as members of the family," said Mr Sutipong.
