Government's subsidy shopping scheme is winning people's hearts

[webfact]

Government's subsidy shopping scheme is winning people's hearts

By The Nation

 

 

The “Khon La Khrueng” (Let's Go Halves) subsidised shopping scheme is gaining popularity among people, so much so that the government has decided to launch the second phase to meet the demands of more people. From 10 million, the scheme is being expanded to cover 15 million people.

 

However, there are some negative views about the scheme, such as loopholes which facilitate corruption.

 

Even though it cannot be denied that various schemes tend to be misused, but thanks to technology, the government has been able to check damage and arrest participants who violate the scheme's regulations as soon as possible.

 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had instructed the Finance Ministry to work on his policy to relieve the people's sufferings from the Covid-19 impact, especially of low-income people.

 

As a result, the Finance Ministry launched three measures to help the people:

 

1. Low-income people: The government paid an extra Bt500 to 14 million state welfare cardholders for six months.

 

2. Moderate-income people: The government launched the "Let's Go Halves" scheme to reduce the cost of living for 15 million participants and boosted approximately 1 million retailers' incomes.

 

3. High-income people: The government launched the "Shop Dee Mee Kuen" (Shop and Payback) scheme, which enables people to deduct tax from buying goods.

 

Apart from reducing the cost of living, the scheme helps stimulate spending to boost the economy and enables people to spend via the electronic payment system as well.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/opinion/30399889

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-12-23

 

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[ChakaKhan]

A hit with the young thai ladies, no so much for their "sponsors"...have a seat gents, its a shoe store!

[ezzra]

It's a trick as old as time, when governments fail to preform they woo the people with gifts and freebies hoping to win points... however, seeing what some of my Thai friends gets in a way of pension and payments for the disable and disfranchised i't peanuts, few hundreds baht a month, that have not been adjusted for many years when a plate of some tam use to cost 5 baht...

[sandyf]

This is a bit late coming out, think it was last Wednesday they launched the second phase. The additional 5 million were taken up in a couple of hours.

My wife's uncle couldn't understand what to do so he asked her to register for him, too late, they had all gone.

Off course foreigners will try and rubbish the scheme but 15 million Thais are more than happy to use it.

[vandeventer]

A lot of the shops are putting their prices up. So it has less meaning, some people always cheat the system.

[connda]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

Government's subsidy shopping scheme is winning people's hearts

Don't worry.  The new COVID ourbreak will drive a stake right through that heart. 

[Glaswegian2]

The Goebbels principle... The lie, oft enough told becomes the truth.

 

Combined with the seeding principle. Make 100 people happy and then announce it loudly, knowing that many (perhaps the majority) of people will assume it applies to the whole population.

 

Not sophisticate but bearing in mind what we're dealing with, it will likely work well enough.

 

Off on a tangent: I heard today that Germany has made mention of someone special, and USA have said they don't want to see lese anything being used. It seems that some of the protestors have been lobbying quite hard. Surprising in many ways.

[djayz]

Everybody loves a freebie. 

[timendres]

16 hours ago, webfact said:

Apart from reducing the cost of living, the scheme helps stimulate spending to boost the economy and enables people to spend via the electronic payment system as well.

 

And deviously pulling more and more people into the system.

[hotchilli]

23 hours ago, webfact said:

However, there are some negative views about the scheme, such as loopholes which facilitate corruption.

It's just a short term idea because they have nothing else to offer.

Getting people back to full-time employment is what people need, not shopping scams.

[mtls2005]

9 hours ago, djayz said:

Everybody loves a freebie. 

 

Unless originated by a populist administration.

 

 

Look, government handouts and subsidies are awesome as long as those most deserving can take advantage of it.

 

This scheme reeks of potential corruption (some have already been charged), and inefficiencies.

 

Do the truly indigent and deserving have smartphones, and know how to use an app?

 

Yes, this may keep some shops open, and some people employed.

 

 

[sandyf]

15 hours ago, vandeventer said:

A lot of the shops are putting their prices up. So it has less meaning, some people always cheat the system.

That is garbage, they are not going to penalise the 80% of the population not in the scheme by raising prices.

I know of some shops that put a few baht on beer, but they are not supposed to sell alcohol under the scheme so both parties would be breaking the rules.

Obviously in any scenario there will be those prepared to take a risk breaking the rules with dual pricing normal goods but in the time it has been running not something we have come across.

[djayz]

1 hour ago, mtls2005 said:

 

Unless originated by a populist administration.

 

 

Look, government handouts and subsidies are awesome as long as those most deserving can take advantage of it.

 

This scheme reeks of potential corruption (some have already been charged), and inefficiencies.

 

Do the truly indigent and deserving have smartphones, and know how to use an app?

 

Yes, this may keep some shops open, and some people employed.

 

 

Those receiving "free money" don't care where it comes from; populist admin or otherwise. This is true the world over.

[mtls2005]

30 minutes ago, sandyf said:

not something we have come across.

 

Sorry, how would you "come across" something nefarious? Are you involved with this scheme, as a provider? consumer??

 

In other news...

 

 

[sandyf]

3 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

 

Sorry, how would you "come across" something nefarious? Are you involved with this scheme, as a provider? consumer??

Stay in context, the point was about shopkeepers raising prices.

We have been in this since the beginning and have been to a great deal of shops and restaurants in various parts of Thailand and not seen any sign of price lists being doctored or goods repriced. I am fairly sure the locals not in the scheme would have something to say if prices went up.

If goods are priced at 20 baht, it is the same whether you pay with cash or the app.

We go out to eat as a family and there are 4 accounts, you can use more than one account to pay the bill. Never once have we been asked how we were going to pay before being given a menu.