Following the government’s cash-handout scheme, social activists claim that it does not help low-income people but weakens them instead, suggesting the authorities should use the money strengthen the national welfare system.
“Rather than just a one-off giving of money, the government should allocate the budget to shore up the national welfare system,” said a key member of the People’s Health Systems Movement.
Three state banks have started distributing the one-time subsidy to the unemployed and other low-income people after the government delayed the payment until December 9.
People who earn Bt30,000 per year or less will get a one-time cash handout of Bt3,000 per person, while those who earn between Bt30,000 to Bt100,000 annually will get Bt1,500 per person.
The subsidy distribution would be finished by the end of the year as a “New Year gift” from the government to the people.
The banks were transferring the subsidy via people’s bank accounts, while people without bank accounts could collect the funds at the banks’ offices.
The government is concerned about all groups of people, especially those who have low incomes.
The subsidy had to be carried out systematically as the government supported people registering in order to establish a database to be used when planning public-welfare outlays.
The government have stressed that the one-time subsidy for low-income people is a short-term measure that [the government] runs in parallel with long-term economic stimulus that will stimulate domestic consumption and prevent further debts for people.
The scheme was welcomed by some people, as they received free money from the government, but social workers said they saw the issue differently since the cash handout would not help to solve problems for low-income people.
Social workers believe that data should be gathered from the wealthy as well so that a fairer system of taxation could be implemented in order to supply funds for the less well-off.
They also point out that a cash hand-out will not help poorer people manage their financial affairs which is key to improving their everyday lives.
(Source: The Nation,Thailand)