In implementing the development work, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great considered the necessity of the people in the first place, that is, public health. When people are physically healthy, they can do other activities. After that, the basic infrastructure and other necessities for performing occupations should be constructed such as roads, water sources for agricultural activities and consumption. The development work should facilitate the community without destroying the natural resources. Next is the provision of knowledge and simple technology, adaptive to local wisdom which can be easily applied by the villagers to achieve the optimum benefit, as reflected in his royal speech as follows:
“…Development of the nation must be carried out in stages, starting with the laying of the foundation by ensuring the majority of the people with their basic necessities through the use of economical means and equipment in accordance with theoretical principles. Once reasonably firm foundation has been laid and in effect, higher levels of economic growth and development should next be promoted. If we were to concentrate only on fast economic progress without allowing the plan of operation to harmonize with the conditions of the country and the people, an imbalance in various aspects would be caused and may bring about failure in the end, as witness the serious economic crises currently faced by many a developed country…”
His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great’s Speech
Given at the Degree Conferring Ceremony
At Kasetsart University
On Thursday 18 July 1974