BANGKOK: Since leaving his home in the heart of Ratchaburi territory about 16 times ago, Mr. Pradit Boonkate, 67, has been employed as a security guard in Bangkok, Thailand. He now receives six weeks of annual left and a monthly salary of 15,900 rmb( US$ 437 ). & nbsp,
His meagre pay explains why he was happyinitiallyto hear that he would be among some 56 million Thais to receive a digital cash handout worth 10,000-baht from the new government next February under an economic incentive devised by the ruling Pheu Thai Party as part of its political campaign.
The plan, which involves the funds being distributed online, may initially seem like a good idea to low-income earners like Mr. Pradit. & nbsp,
But when considering how the cash must be spent – in six months, on food, medicines and occupational tools at local businesses locatedwithin a 4km radius of their registered address – those who live and work far away from home could find it hard to enjoy the free money.
“For people who live in the countryside, there is a huge distance between the town and their homes. Their villages often have small grocery stores selling things like canned fish and eggswhich won’t accept the digital money,” Mr Pradit,whose registered address remains in his Ratchaburi hometown, told CNA.
Some people believe that the US$ 15 billion scheme will ultimately benefit the wealthy and their large businesses, which already have the capacity to deliver goods and the technology to provide transactions, even though the government intends to change the conditions for rural areas to ensure that digital cash may penetrate and advantage all parts of the country.
” How are there so many things that little shops is provide?” said Mr. Pradit. ” It’s nice to get the money, but who will benefit from it, the prosperous?”
THE Citizens PAY, THE State GIVES?
The digital wallet programme is designed for Thai nationals,with only one qualifying condition: as long as they are aged 16 and above.
Its main goal is to boost the economy through income transmission in communities across the country while increasing the paying power of low-income earners.
But a group of reportedly 99academics, economists and former governors of the Bank of Thailand have recently issued a joint statement against its implementation.
They urged the government to end the program, claiming that doing so would increase short-term usage and ultimately harm Thailand’s financial security.
According to the statement,” Eventually, it will be the people who will have to pay it back, whether it be through higher taxes and / or higher prices of goods brought on by inflation as a result of economic injection.”
Dr. Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput, the governor of the Bank of Thailand, even suggested last month that the policy only apply to a select group of people because not everyone requires for financial assistance and the market is recovering.