Reflection on COVID-19 Remedial Measures Based on Group-Targeting Principle: A Case Study of Slum and Rural Communities, Ubon Ratchathani Province

Abstract

This article reflects on issues in COVID-19 remedial measures based on group-targeting principle. The article drew on document research combined with fieldwork research. Document research explored online sources of government COVID-19 remedial measures, including online research papers and articles discussing the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 from national and international institutions and experts. Fieldwork research was a qualitative research study conducted in two communities: an urban slum community and a rural community in Ubon Ratchathani province. Data collection involved in-depth structured interviews with purposively selected 22 samples, as well as non-participatory observations over short period in both communities. The findings indicated that in the context of the pandemic, the major population suffered significantly and required urgent remedial measures. However, the targeting remedial measures did exclude affected individuals at the outset. During the implementation phase, the online registration screening had resulted in the exclusion of more affected individuals. While the recovery measures faced challenges in achieving success due to limited financial compensations compared to impacts, the delays in delivering economic and social recovery programs, and the inadequate social welfare designs. The present study recommended that the remedial measures should be applied on a universality principle, which needed no registration nor screening that expedited the remedial process, and avoided mis-exclusion of the affected individuals. By implementing the remedial measures prioritizing universal social welfare principle, a more allocative efficiency of remedial measures in future pandemic is foreseeable.