Sudarat goes for broke in Northeast

The Thai Sang Thai Party led by Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan yesterday pledged to solve debt problems and generate sustainable income for people in the northeastern region over the coming three years.

During pre-election events in Sakon Nakhon’s Maung and Khok Sri Suphan districts, Khunying Sudarat said despite being the largest region the Northeast remained the poorest as it lacked opportunities and the previous elections failed to elevate people’s livelihoods.

“People in the Northeast have gone through a lot and the Thai Sang Thai Party is here to help transform the region,” she said.

She said raising agricultural product prices, a systematic improvement in the management of the region’s main rivers and debt suspension were among the core policies that would rejuvenate the region and ensure sustainable incomes for residents.

Moreover, the party would also push for better state welfare for the elderly with a plan to offer seniors a monthly allowance of 3,000 baht to not only help shore up the quality of life for the elderly, but it could also stimulate the local economy, she added.

The proposed rate is about three times higher than the current monthly allowances offered to people aged 60 and older, which range from 600 baht to 1,000 baht.

According to Khunying Sudarat, the party’s free education policy is designed to cover undergraduate study and would lower financial burdens on parents and students as they would not need student loans to pay for tuition fees.

She also declared that the party would not tolerate narcotic trafficking and those involved in the illicit trade especially law enforcement officers.

The party also unveiled six regional candidates yesterday — Veerasak Prompakdi, Sakhon Prompakdi, Thanom Sompol, Sirapob Sompol, Sittirat Rattanawijarn and Thanachart Chaitongpan.