PUBLISHED: 10 Feb 2025 at 06: 10
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira says the next step of the 10-baht digital wallet handout program will start in the second quarter of this year.
” The]fund distribution ] system will be tested this month and completed in time for the launch of the third phase in the second quarter of this year”, Mr Pichai, who doubles as deputy prime minister, said, noting that development of the system is making good progress.
The next step would use an open-loop repayment program, according to lieutenant finance minister Julapun Amornvivat. According to him, the structure is intended to connect with different financial organizations in the nation.
He claimed that the next phase of the program is intended for people who have already enrolled in the Thang Rat application between the ages of 16 and 59. To qualify, they may have savings in less than 500 000 ringgit and a monthly income of less than 840 000 baht in each bank account.
However, a Nida surveys found most older people who were given 10, 000 ringgit each under the second phase of the program said it influenced their support for the government, while some may still back the government regardless of the show’s life.
The National Institute of Development Administration ( Nida ) conducted the survey across the country from February 3 through February 5, with 1, 310 people with different income and education levels and ages.
Nearly half ( 44.89 % ) of respondents when asked if they would support the Pheu Thai-led government in light of the stimulus program’s influence on their support for the government.
About 30.69 % of respondents said they would support the government regardless of the programme’s existence while 14.35 % said they would not support the government under any circumstances. 10.7 % of respondents said they had not yet made a decision.
Asked how respondents had spent the 10, 000-baht cash handout, 86.18 % said they spent it on daily expenses including utility bills and petrol, for health-related expenses ( 26.26 % ), repaying debt ( 13.66 % ), and saving for future expenses ( 11.98 % ).
Others said buying goods for reselling ( 9.24 % ), education expenses ( 8.70 % ), buying underground or government lottery tickets ( 4.35 % ), electrical appliances ( 1.76 % ), buying mobile phones/IT devices ( 0.53 % ), travel expenses ( 0.46 % ) and entertainment including partying, buying alcohol or cigarettes ( 0.38 % ).
The survey said 69.08 % of respondents were 60–69 years old, 27.94 % aged 70–79 years and 2.98 % aged 80 years and over. Of the sample, 47.10 % are housewives, house husbands, retirees or jobless, 20.53 % are farmers/fishermen, 16.95 % are business owners/freelancers, 15.04 % are labourers and 0.38 % are employed. Some 41.07 % had no money.