22 billion baht budget allocated to assist flood victims

Permanent of the Prime Minister’s Office indicated that the government’s compensation program for flood victims have seen much progress.

Jullayuth Hiranyawasit (จุลยุทธ หิรัณยะวสิต), the permanent secretary of PM’s Office, disclosed that the Cabinet has approved a rehabilitation plan and budget of 22 billion baht proposed by a government committee in charge of rehabilitation program for the flood victims.

The committee focuses on providing aids to five groups of flood sufferers, including the farmers, students, small entrepreneurs, those whose residences have been destroyed, and jobless.

According to Mr Jullayuth, the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) has distributed the total of 29 million baht to more than 2,000 farmers affected by flooding. BAAC expects to finish compensating all of the farmers registered as flood victims by the end of this month.

As for the students, the Ministry of education will begin compensating them within this week. Meanwhile, the Local Government Office has already finished its compensation program for the small entrepreneurs since December 31 last year.

The total of 1.2 billion baht has been allocated for the victims with residence problems. Those whose houses have been completely destroyed receive 70,000 baht while partially ruined get 30,000 baht. As for the jobless, a budget of 100 million baht was approved to create jobs and provide vocational training for them.

The permanent secretary added that most victims are satisfied with the government’s compensation program and view that this year’s program has outdone that last year.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 10 January 2007

When are they going to start replacing bridges etc.?