Days left before cash handouts

Beginning on September 20, the digital wallet system will begin.

Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat, centre, meets supporters of the handout project at the Pheu Thai Party headquarters in Bangkok in October last year. (Photo: Somchai Poomlard)
Julapun Amornvivat, Deputy Finance Minister, attends a meeting with Pheu Thai Party followers in Bangkok in October of last year. ( Photo: Somchai Poomlard )

According to deputy finance minister Julapun Amornvivat, the government is expected to give 145 billion ringgit in money to people who are vulnerable and those who use state security cards starting on September 20.

After the state releases its policy speech to congress on Thursday, he said on Tuesday, the particulars of the handout program will be evident. The government will finally convene a meeting on September 17 to review it.

After Sept. 20,” the cash is anticipated to be distributed to 14.5 million persons in vulnerable teams,” according to Mr. Julapun.

Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira previously stated that 10,000 baht would be immediately distributed to numerous condition welfare cardholders and those with disabilities starting at the same time.

Phumtham Wechayachai, the minister of defense, recently confirmed that the cabinet did receive the digital wallet handout plan for approval on September 17.

He claimed that the program will help the nation’s business grow and open the door for a modern economy.

The 14.5 million people who hold state security cards and are disabled was, according to Mr. Phumtham, spend the money on any items in small shops or significant office stores.

He said the program’s so-called bad record, which was introduced to guarantee it would be spent at smaller outlets just, will no longer use.

Products on that list included alcoholic drinks, tobacco products, cannabis products, teak products, vouchers, money cards, silver, gemstones, diamonds, oil gasoline, natural gas, electrical appliances, digital technology, and conversation devices.

If the digital wallet system is n’t finished in time, those who have already registered through the Tang Rat application will get 5, 000 baht by the end of the year. Next year, the other half of the payment will be made in modern money.

The system is the basis of the administration’s plan to start Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy, which grew 2.3 % in the second quarter.

Concerned about the start of the guaranteed stimulus measures has been caused by a judge’s elimination of Srettha Thavisin as prime minister last quarter.

Mr Srettha’s son, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, said last week that part of the flyer will now be given in dollars.

Mr Julapun recently said 32 million persons have registered for the project, including prone groups, but not those without phones, through which resources were expected to be received via an application.

According to the president’s latest revised characters, the 450 billion baht for the handout plan may be sourced from the expenses for fiscal times 2024 and 2025.

Around 140 billion ringgit did come from the governmental time 2024– with about 23 billion baht coming from 2024’s core budget and 122 billion baht from 2024’s more budget.

Parliament has previously approved a secondary bill that would increase the amount of the government’s budget for the current fiscal year by 122 billion ringgit to partially finance the scheme.

Also, about 187 billion ringgit of that 450 billion baht may come from the 2025 core budget.

This leaves the 450 billion ringgit plan only slightly under 117 billion baht.

Sirikanya Tansakun, a record MP of the criticism People’s Party, criticised the plan to divide the 10, 000-baht pay into two tranches, saying this means the state may not be able to secure sufficient funding to fully fund the structure.

The distribution of 10,000 baht in cash to vulnerable groups is expected to increase GDP by 3.5 % to 4 % in the fourth quarter of this year, according to Thanawat Phonwichai, chief adviser to the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce’s center for economic and business forecasting.