In the heart of Buri Ram, a woman proudly fans out a bundle of 500-baht bills on a sunny Thursday. She’s one of the lucky recipients of the government’s 10,000-baht handout programme, an initiative that’s sending ripples of excitement—and much-needed financial relief—throughout the nation. Captured in a vivid moment by Surachai Piraksa, this scene is quickly becoming emblematic of hope for many struggling citizens.
The high-profile handout, launched this Wednesday, allows recipients to spend their 10,000 baht on virtually anything they wish—including clearing their lingering debts. Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has been quite vocal about this newfound financial freedom. “They can use the money [to clear their debts],” he stressed on Thursday, making it clear that the programme is designed to solve real-world problems. “They have the right to use the money to solve their problems.”
Phumtham confidently reiterated, “This is proof that the government will deliver its promises. The next phase of the scheme will be rolled out, we just have to wait for the first phase to end.” However, he was quick to downplay critics’ threats aimed at initiating investigations against the scheme, insinuating that it might be a veiled vote-buying tactic. With an air of resolute determination, he stated, “We’re not concerned about that. We’re focusing on tackling people’s problems.”
In a separate address, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul issued a stern warning to lenders who intimidate recipients into using their handout for debt repayment. Reports had surfaced that loan sharks were seen lurking around ATMs, ready to pounce on handout recipients as soon as they withdrew their funds. “It is illegal for lenders to intimidate debtors,” Anutin declared firmly.
Echoing this sentiment, Pol Lt Gen Akkaradet Pimonsri, the assistant national police chief, issued orders for law enforcement nationwide to crack down on these predatory practices. His immediate intervention underscores the seriousness of the government’s stand against such exploitative tactics.
The first phase of this ambitious scheme, which is set to run until the end of the month, prioritizes distributing the funds to specific groups. This includes 12.4 million state welfare cardholders and 2.1 million disability cardholders, all receiving their 10,000-baht through PromptPay, linked to their national ID numbers. But initial reports indicate that only about 3.1 million out of the 14.5 million eligible welfare cardholders and disabled individuals have managed to receive their money due to PromptPay system limitations.
The government has urged state welfare cardholders to link their national ID card numbers to the PromptPay system by year-end to ensure smooth receipt of their funds. It’s a race against time as over 1 million of the welfare cardholders have yet to link up, while more than 11 million have already made the necessary connection.
As stories of financial relief and newfound hope continue to pour in, the nation’s eyes are firmly set on this transformative initiative. The government’s 10,000-baht handout isn’t just currency; it’s a lifeline proving that real change, however small, is undeniably powerful.
This 10,000-baht handout is a lifesaver! Finally, some action from the government that benefits the people directly.
You must be joking! This is clearly a ploy to sway votes. It’s temporary relief at best.
Whether it’s a ploy or not, it’s still helping people pay off debts and get some breathing room.
Exactly! I’d rather have temporary relief than no help at all. Let’s give credit where it’s due.
While it’s great for immediate issues, what about long-term sustainable solutions? We can’t rely on handouts forever.
Good point, Sophie. The government should focus on creating more jobs and educational opportunities.
Something tells me this program will be mismanaged like so many others. I wonder how effectively they’re cracking down on those loan sharks.
The government is too weak to enforce these laws. The loan sharks will just adapt and find new ways to exploit people.
I’d like to believe they’re serious this time. With constant media coverage, they can’t afford to ignore these loan sharks.
Ashley, media coverage fades quickly. I don’t have much faith in their promises, unfortunately.
What about the people who can’t link their ID to PromptPay? They’re being left out!
The government should have prepared better for this. Many rural areas don’t even have reliable internet access.
Right? It’s frustrating. They should be more inclusive and consider everyone’s situation.
This seems like a good initiative, but I’m concerned about the long-term impact on our economy. Can we afford these handouts without jeopardizing future budgets?
Spending money we don’t have is going to bite us later. Inflation might get worse.
Exactly, Paul. We need sustainable economic policies, not just quick fixes.
I think the handout is a great idea, but implementation seems to be problematic. Only 3.1 million out of 14.5 million received their funds? That’s a huge gap.
That’s typical government for you. They promise a lot but fail to deliver effectively.
It’s likely the system is overloaded with the sudden influx of registrations. Give it some time.
Betty, you’re probably right. But they should have foreseen this and planned accordingly.
I don’t care what anyone says, my family really needed this. It’s not perfect, but it’s something.
Good to hear it’s benefiting some people. Hopefully, it helps more families in the coming days.
Glad it’s helping your family! Here’s to hoping more people have similar experiences.
Loan sharks are a menace, but let’s not pretend that cracking down on them is an easy fix. Decades of systemic issues can’t be solved overnight.
10,000 baht is a pittance compared to what people really need. This is a band-aid solution at best.
How can we ensure that this program benefits those who are most in need and not just those who are quick to sign up?
Eligibility checks should be more stringent, but that could slow down the process even more.
True, but a balanced approach could help. Maybe community-based verification?
It’s shameful how people are using any good initiative to further their political agendas. Can’t we just appreciate something without politicizing it?
Why aren’t we holding the government accountable for the initial failure to deliver funds? This is taxpayers’ money!
This initiative is a step in the right direction, but there needs to be a concurrent focus on reducing unemployment and improving education.
Anyone else think this whole plan is a way for the government to distract us from other pressing issues?
While I support the handout, it’s important to question why previous welfare programs have failed. Are we just repeating the same mistakes?