‘Gold’ app latest in series of benefits for senior citizens

[webfact]

‘Gold’ app latest in series of benefits for senior citizens

By The Nation

 

 

THE GOVERNMENT will later this month launch an app, called “Gold Application”, for elderly citizens to keep them informed of the rights, benefits and opportunities they are entitled to.

 

“When they type the number of their national identification card into the app, they will be able to access useful information or request help from the state,” Older Persons Department’s director-general Thanaporn Promsuwan said yesterday. 

 

There are now 10.5 million Thais over age 60, accounting for 16.5 per cent of the country’s total population. The greying demographic also looks set to soar to 20 per cent of the population within the next three years. 

 

The government is therefore making active preparations for the country’s growing elderly population, she said. 

 

“From this year onward, we intend to apply innovations to elderly lives,” Thanaporn said. “We will use technologies for effective communications”.

 

 The Gold Application will enable senior citizens to reach relevant information without the need to travel to provincial welfare centres for older persons.

 

Thanaporn said the elderly, for example, should know that the government provides monthly subsidies for those over 60. 

 

The value of subsidies ranges from Bt600 to Bt1,000, depending on their age, with subsidies increasing as they get older. Elderly people who have registered themselves as low-income earners will also get Bt100 extra every month. 

 

For those elderly who still have the dream of running a small business of their own, the government has also provided interest-free loans of up to Bt30,000 per person. If they form a team of at least five, each team can get up to Bt100,000 in loans. Repayments can be stretched out over three years. 

 

Thanaporn said the elderly could also seek help if they were homeless, cash-strapped or abandoned by family members. 

 

In a bid to promote job opportunities, the government is now offering tax incentives to enterprises that hire those over 60 years.

 

The Health Department’s deputy director-general, Dr Atthaphon Kaewsamrit said his agency was trying to promote active ageing among Thailand’s elderly population. 

 

“We will encourage the elderly to use their abilities in family and community development,” he said. 

 

Atthaphon said about 8.5 million elderly Thais were still sufficiently physically fit to contribute. 

 

He added that about two million Thais were homebound due to health conditions. 

 

“As for this group, we will try to reduce their dependence on others and engage them more in social activities,” he said. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30343083

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-04-13

[colinneil]

Yes this gold app is a good idea but.

Many old folk here cannot even use / or afford a smartphone.

Also will this app help old folk against corrupt officials who are hell- bent on getting their hands on the old folks money.

[starky]

Thai brilliance at work. Why would you form a "team" for 100000 baht when you could just 5 individual loans for 150000 baht then form a team anyway.

[bluesofa]

59 minutes ago, starky said:

Thai brilliance at work. Why would you form a "team" for 100000 baht when you could just 5 individual loans for 150000 baht then form a team anyway.

Very true.

However, what's the chance of officials approving five individual loans for the five people doing the same thing, more than likely all in the same village?

Having said that, we are talking about government employees here, assuming they have any logic or common sense to even consider that.

 

[starky]

14 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

Very true.

However, what's the chance of officials approving five individual loans for the five people doing the same thing, more than likely all in the same village?

Having said that, we are talking about government employees here, assuming they have any logic or common sense to even consider that.

 

I suppose it depends what sort of kickback they are getting from the loan and fast tracking the loan approval.

[sanuk711]

1 hour ago, starky said:

Thai brilliance at work. Why would you form a "team" for 100000 baht when you could just 5 individual loans for 150000 baht then form a team anyway.

I'm reading that differently starky, & you may be correct---...... "interest-free loans of up to Bt30,000 per person. If they form a team of at least five, (Then* my word) each team can get up to Bt100,000 in loans".

[Oziex1]

I know a few elderly people over 70 who have mobile phones and use them for calls only. Apps??

[starky]

1 hour ago, sanuk711 said:

I'm reading that differently starky, & you may be correct---...... "interest-free loans of up to Bt30,000 per person. If they form a team of at least five, (Then* my word) each team can get up to Bt100,000 in loans".

Yes, but could not 5 individuals apply for the 30k or is there only going to be so many loans per village? Which then leads to how to decide who gets them? But if it is open to all there is no way anyone could prove they were a team. Like a lot of these sort of statements they are as clear as mud.

[bluesofa]

19 hours ago, starky said:

Yes, but could not 5 individuals apply for the 30k or is there only going to be so many loans per village? Which then leads to how to decide who gets them? But if it is open to all there is no way anyone could prove they were a team. Like a lot of these sort of statements they are as clear as mud.

It's what bureaucrats excel at.

 

[Bluespunk]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Thanaporn said the elderly could also seek help if they were homeless, cash-strapped or abandoned by family members. 

Can’t see the homeless having access to a device that can download the app. 

 

However, if they somehow do, does the app explain how the govt will re-house them?

[PhonThong]

I hope it works as well as the online 90 reporting does.

We all know what a great success that is.........

[greenchair]

4 hours ago, starky said:

Thai brilliance at work. Why would you form a "team" for 100000 baht when you could just 5 individual loans for 150000 baht then form a team anyway.

You would be surprised to know how difficult it is to actually get one of those loans. 

For a start, you have to have a freehold property. 

Then you also need to show that you have an income to pay it back. 

Which is kind of silly, because you need the loan in order to start a business in order to generate an income. 

So 5 people are more likely to get a loan than 1. 

[Samui Bodoh]

Two points...

 

The loan program. I have some experience in anti-poverty programs around Asia, and I think this is simply a case of bad translation and/or bad reporting. There is a proven principle in providing small/micro loans that if you provide them to a self-created group (3-10 people or so; you don't want much bigger), the money is spent much better and the likelihood of repayment/success goes way way up; simply put, peer pressure works. I would assume (again, bad reporting) that the people who get a loan in a group of five or so would not be eligible to get a loan individually and/or would not get the lowest interest rate; that just makes sense. It is too nice a day to do a lot of research on this, but you can easily find information that this is how modern micro-loans work, generally speaking.

 

The App in older people's smart phones. I do not believe that this is purely an altruistic plan on the part of the Junta; sorry, but I have not ever seen evidence that they do that. This sounds like a good political/electoral move on their part; who is the most reliable, likely more conservative, voter? An older person with some education. And if older people with some education are generally the most reliable voters, then it is logical to target a plan at them. A move like this is quite similar to coupons in a newspaper; if there are people who can take advantage of a program like this, then they will 'thank' the government. Other elderly people who do not take advantage of these funds/loans will see them and think "Hmm... the government is taking care of elderly people like me...". Perhaps I am too suspicious, but while these are good sorts of programs when they run well/are well run, I can't help but notice that they are coming out at a perfect time for political benefit...

 

Happy Songkran all!

 

[starky]

4 hours ago, Bluespunk said:

Can’t see the homeless having access to a device that can download the app. 

 

However, if they somehow do, does the app explain how the govt will re-house them?

Easy first they borrow the money, then they go and buy a nice iPhone or galaxy 9+ at 20 odd thousand baht, that they have never needed in their life. Then they download the app that they also will never need in their life. Thus returning happiness to the people. 

[ratcatcher]

2 hours ago, starky said:

Easy first they borrow the money, then they go and buy a nice iPhone or galaxy 9+ at 20 odd thousand baht, that they have never needed in their life. Then they download the app that they also will never need in their life. Thus returning happiness to the people. 

So cynical, so accurate.