PUBLISHED : 16 Feb 2024 at 04:00
A new sub-committee was formed yesterday by the government’s main committee directing the pending implementation of the ruling Pheu Thai Party’s 10,000-baht digital wallet policy.
It has been given 30 days to study any related concerns and observations raised over the handout scheme.
These opinions were recently submitted to the government by the Council of State, the government’s legal arm, and the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), which has set up a panel to closely monitor the scheme’s implementation amid concerns about possible corruption.
In campaigning for the latest general election, Pheu Thai promised its voters it would give all Thais aged 16 and older 10,000 baht in the form of digital currency for spending, a key policy intended to stimulate the economy.
The newly formed panel must report the findings from its assigned study to the digital wallet committee within 30 days, said Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.
He was speaking after chairing this year’s first meeting of the main digital wallet committee.
The PM denied speculation that the scheme, initially set to begin in May, would be delayed further by the month-long study.
The government still has to find the 500 billion baht required to fund the scheme, he said.
Mr Srettha said the digital wallet scheme would be rolled out transparently and legally.
“I insist the government will implement this digital wallet scheme. But when exactly…I still can’t say,” said Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat.