Government allots B30bn for welfare e-payments
The government estimates it will spend an annual budget of 30 billion baht to finance welfare provisions and subsidies for the poor through the national e-payment system.
Even though the budget for the poverty schemes is higher than in the past because a higher number of people are being offered welfare, the amount is lower on an individual project basis as the welfare and subsidies will be directed to recipients through the national e-payment system instead of blanket offers used in the past, said Finance Minister Apisak Tantiworavong.
Registration for the scheme, starting from April 3, will run through May 15 at Krungthai Bank, the Government Savings Bank and the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives.
The government recently estimated 14-15 million low-income earners will sign up for the assistance scheme.
Mr Apisak said the government will kick off offering welfare and subsidies to those who qualify on Oct 1.
Recipients will obtain cards to get discounts for trains and free utilities up to a certain limit of electricity usage such as 90 units, he said.
The government could provide cash giveaways of 100 baht a month to lowincome earners to buy goods that are essential for life at the Commerce Ministry’s Blue Flag shops, said Mr Apisak.
The electronic data capture (EDC) system will be ready for use countrywide by mid-year 2017 after the ministry selected two winning bidders for installation of the EDC machines, he said.
The government also plans to offer consumers who receive e-payment through cards instead of cash the chance at a 1 million baht prize through a monthly lucky draw for a total of 12 months following the official launch.
Thailand will be the first country in Asean to implement an integrated e-payment system.
The system is meant to benefit the country not only in terms of the costs and efficiency of financial transactions but also as a platform for Thailand to speed up its penetration into the financial markets of neighbouring countries.