E-payments may be used to disburse state aid to the poor

[webfact]

E-payments may be used to disburse state aid to the poor

By CHULARAT SAENGPASSA, 
PIYANUCH THAMNUKASETCHAI 
THE NATION

 

File photo

 

Prompt pay being considered as authorities mull measures to prevent corruption
 

AUTHORITIES ARE considering providing financial assistance from the state to poor people only via e-payments, so as to be able track them for transparency. 

 

Social Development and Welfare Department (SDWD) director-general Napa Setthakorn said yesterday relevant authorities had considered the measure in the hope of preventing corruption in the wake a recent nationwide scandal.

 

“We may also require that pictures of people receiving the help be taken,” Napa said. 

 

The Office of Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) has detected huge irregularities in the disbursement of state funds via protection centres to the destitute in 49 provinces. 

 

The centres are under the supervision of the SDWD.

 

Napa mentioned many measures could be introduced to prevent corruption, after she held a meeting with PACC acting secretary-general Lt-Colonel Korntip Daroj. 

 

During the meeting, the two discussed how to prevent the abuse of state funds for the destitute in fiscal year 2018.

 

Napa believed an e-payment system such as Prompt Pay could work, even for people living in remote areas. 

 

Given that Prompt Pay accounts are associated with mobile telephone numbers or national identification card numbers, it would be clear who are the recipients of state funds, Napa said.

 

The ongoing probe by the PACC has found that receipts for the funds, even signed, could have been forged. Available evidence suggests local officials forged signatures of poor people to embezzle money.

 

Napa said her agency had randomly checked documents about the disbursement of state funds, but found documents prepared by provincial centres were correct. 

 

The PACC started investigating protection centres for the destitute after a student from the Mahasarakham University, who was posted as a trainee at the Khon Kaen Protection Centre for the Youth and detected suspicious practices, blew the whistle. 

 

In a recent interview with The Nation, Korntip said he hoped state agencies would announce publicly who would be eligible to receive state funds or state-provided help, and how much money or help they would receive. 

 

“When people know their rights, they will protect them,” he said. 

 

Korntip pointed out how local people in Nakhon Phanom province had collaborated in gathering evidence of alleged irregularities after learning about the corruption scandal. 

 

“One of them recorded the voice of a school director who seemed to try to cover the corruption in his province while another took a picture,” he said. 

 

The clip and picture handed over to the PACC suggested that the school director had asked people to lie to the PACC and paid them between Bt50 and Bt100. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30341519

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-03-23

[Juan B Tong]

Ha, never happen.

No chance to skim.

[bluesofa]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

“We may also require that pictures of people receiving the help be taken,” Napa said. 

 

Sounds more like someone trying to cover their backside. I doubt very much it will make any difference.

What would work: Death penalty for government officials guilty of corruption. I'd say it would reduce the level by 95%.

 

Edited March 23, 2018 by bluesofa
misprit

[scorecard]

 

"The clip and picture handed over to the PACC suggested that the school director had asked people to lie to the PACC and paid them between Bt50 and Bt100. "

 

What worries me is that given the size of this embezzlement, and threatening poor people to shut up, , perhaps whatever worries me is whether these corrupt officials will find a way, regardless of the payment method, to still get a cut.

 

Electronic payments, sure, but very determined scammers will find a way around anything if they are determined.

 

Why not have a government agency, controlled by a committee of respected civilians, with mandatory turnover, who continuously monitor whether people are receiving their correct payments and continuously monitor whether poor people are being intimidated in some way. And the committee blows the whistle direct to the PM on any officer who seems to be impeding any investigation.

 

And change the penalties to life in prison and total confiscation of all of their assets for any government staff caught.

 

 

 

 

[Cadbury]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Prompt pay being considered as authorities mull measures to prevent corruption
 

This is only a "mull" at the moment. Nothing will happen. Those at the top have too much to loose.

[mok199]

 the only way, is factor corruption into the pie(budget) and increase accordingly...shamless thais are a clever lot they are... besides ''they are entitled to it''..because ,''my father did it ,as did my fathers father''..

Edited March 23, 2018 by mok199
speliing

[inzman]

The only way to combat the level of corruption here is to make the penalties a deterrent! What don’t they get? I guess they are afraid of having it used against them. The days of a big wai and the 500 baht fine  or the threat of a transfer to an inactive post are not a deterrent!

[Srikcir]

3 hours ago, scorecard said:

these corrupt officials will find a way, regardless of the payment method, to still get a cut.

Simple. For Prompt Pay the only number needed is the mobile phone number or citizen ID number for transfers through Internet banking, Mobile banking, or ATM. Hardly a state secret and no doubt available to senior government officials. 

[bluesofa]

8 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

Simple. For Prompt Pay the only number needed is the mobile phone number or citizen ID number for transfers through Internet banking, Mobile banking, or ATM. Hardly a state secret and no doubt available to senior government officials. 

True.

I don't know however, if there's a requirement the bank account must be in the same name as the ID card holder though?

If so, that would make it more difficult, but I'm sure not insurmountable.