15 million people to receive cash instead of digital wallet payments

[webfact]

FILE - courtesy NBT Thailand

 

Thailand’s Pheu Thai-led government is set to give 15 million citizens 10,000 baht in cash, eschewing a planned digital wallet scheme. The “fragile” groups, primarily state welfare cardholders, are in line for this direct cash handout.

 

Under Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of influential Pheu Thai figure Thaksin Shinawatra, this move reflects a shift in strategy. Initially, the Pheu Thai party had championed a digital wallet project, a signature initiative conceived under Thaksin’s vision. However, the plan has faced delays and now seems unlikely to proceed.

 

The one-time cash payment aims to support individuals, who make up nearly a third of Thailand’s adult population. This shift in policy will cost an estimated 122 billion baht, sourced from a supplementary budget in the government’s Central Fund.

 

An earlier projection posited that around 45 million Thais aged 16 or older would take part in the digital wallet scheme. While more than 30 million people have registered for the digital wallet via the Stateway App, the government has yet to confirm if the initiative will ever be realized.

 

Former Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin had planned to roll out the digital wallets by the fourth quarter of the year. The digital wallet was designed for purchases of up to 10,000 baht on essential goods within residents' home districts. Prohibited items included luxury goods, alcohol, cigarettes, and services like spa treatments and fitness centres.

 

It remains to be seen how the cash handout will be received compared to the digital wallet project. The pragmatic shift to direct cash aims to deliver immediate relief, though it diverges from the initially envisioned, and arguably more modern, digital approach.

 

The government’s latest decision reflects a broader trend of using direct financial aid to support citizens in challenging economic times. Whether this will forge sustained economic improvement remains to be observed.

 

-- 2024-08-23

 

 

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[dinsdale]

From 45 million down to 15 million. Oh well! I guess the 15 million spending the dosh on food and booze will have a good time for a week or or two then back to square one. This will do nothing to "stimulate" the economy. Populist rubbish akin to printing money.

Edited August 22 by dinsdale

[CharlieH]

4 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

From 45 million down to 15 million. Oh well! I guess the 15 million spending the dosh on food and booze will have a good time for a week or or two then back to square one. This will do nothing to "stimulate" the economy. Populist rubbish akin to printing money.

45m people, 30m have reg for digital, leaving 15m that havnt or can't because of their status, most being old and rural probably.

[dinsdale]

17 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

45m people, 30m have reg for digital, leaving 15m that havnt or can't because of their status, most being old and rural probably.

 

31 minutes ago, webfact said:

An earlier projection posited that around 45 million Thais aged 16 or older would take part in the digital wallet scheme. While more than 30 million people have registered for the digital wallet via the Stateway App, the government has yet to confirm if the initiative will ever be realized.

The digital wallet IMO will not see the light of day. This 10k cash handout is more about buying back lost votes from the PTP support base lost when Thaksin jumped into bed with the enemy.

Edited August 22 by dinsdale

[redwood1]

This is a brilliant plan...

 

If EVERYONE  was to receive 10,000 then all the money would have to be paid out properly.....Because if anyone did not receive their 10,000 they would know and could demand their 10,000... 

 

Now if only 15 million got the 10,000 this would mean a whole lot of people would not be getting the 10,000...

 

So a person would not be 100% sure if they would get the 10,000 or not..

 

Now lets say only 10 million people got  the  10,000....This would be plenty of people for the news to do endless stories over and loads of interviews with the 10 million who got their 10,000...

 

The renaming 5 million peoples money could be diverted into a few of the right people accounts along with feeding plenty of the pigs at the trough ...

 

And the 5 million who did not get their 10,000 would be none the wiser about not getting their money....

[OneMoreFarang]

How often was this changed already over the last couple of months? And it seems some changes just happen suddenly within a day.

One would think for one of the most expensive popular schemes in the history of Thailand there should be a little more planning and organizing and execution of a detailed plan involved.

But no, one day Thaksin wants this, and the next day he is in a different mood, and everybody pretends that is normal.

Maybe someone should tell him and his lackeys that it looks bad changing something all the time.

Amazing Thailand

 

[OneMoreFarang]

8 minutes ago, redwood1 said:

This is a brilliant plan...

 

If EVERYONE  was to receive 10,000 then all the money would have to be paid out properly.....Because if anyone did not receive their 10,000 they would know and could demand their 10,000... 

 

Now if only 15 million got the 10,000 this would mean a whole lot of people would not be getting the 10,000...

 

So a person would not be 100% sure if they would get the 10,000 or not..

 

Now lets say only 10 million people got  the  10,000....This would be plenty of people for the news to do endless stories over and loads of interviews with the 10 million who got their 10,000...

 

The renaming 5 million peoples money could be diverted into a few of the right people accounts along with feeding plenty of the pigs at the trough ...

 

And the 5 million who did not get their 10,000 would be none the wiser about not getting their money....

 

Yes, but the good news is that some voters will remember this scam for the next election.

[OneMoreFarang]

I wonder how many Thais planned already how they will use the 10,000B which will surely be in their pocket by the end of the year.

[nakhonandy]

2 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I wonder how many Thais planned already how they will use the 10,000B which will surely be in their pocket by the end of the year.

I'm sure quite a few have probably already borrowed against receiving it.

[ikke1959]

There is no planning, they don't have a clue what and how they want tot do things as they want to make everybody happy and listen to all wishes.. The result is plan that leaks everywhere.. Cash will not stimulate the economy, and I am still wondering where the age of 16 comes from.. Most of these teenagers live at home and don't t have so many personal expenses.. I would do from 21 years on as that are mostly University students and have more costs. The salary of 70k is also too high lower it to 40k That is what many foreign teachers can earn in Government schools if they are lucky and that seems to be a good salary. And people with no more than 250.000 THB in a bank account...IT would save much more money... and roll it out decently... But with no planning and even no plan it is difficult..

[stupidfarang]

1 hour ago, dinsdale said:

From 45 million down to 15 million. Oh well! I guess the 15 million spending the dosh on food and booze will have a good time for a week or or two then back to square one. This will do nothing to "stimulate" the economy. Populist rubbish akin to printing money.

Still 45million people, just that 15million of those will get cash "The “fragile” groups, primarily state welfare cardholders, are in line for this direct cash handout"

 

[stupidfarang]

will be interesting to see what happens to the baht, up or down or stay the same? To be honest I am amazed how strong the baht is when you read about the economy in general.

[2baht]

Where's the money and when do they get it???

[ChrisY1]

Cash is a great idea...4 x Hong Thong...2 boxes of Archer..6 MacD meals and ten lottery tickets.....gone in no time!

[Artisi]

44 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

There is no planning, they don't have a clue what and how they want tot do things as they want to make everybody happy and listen to all wishes.. The result is plan that leaks everywhere.. Cash will not stimulate the economy, and I am still wondering where the age of 16 comes from.. Most of these teenagers live at home and don't t have so many personal expenses.. I would do from 21 years on as that are mostly University students and have more costs. The salary of 70k is also too high lower it to 40k That is what many foreign teachers can earn in Government schools if they are lucky and that seems to be a good salary. And people with no more than 250.000 THB in a bank account...IT would save much more money... and roll it out decently... But with no planning and even no plan it is difficult..

Planning, what's that?

a foreign unknown concept to Thai's, especially politicians wanting to ensure their golden goose keeps producing. 

[BE88]

 

Yes cash money is a good idea especially when you don't know making virtual currency. 😁

[Emdog]

time to get the old mugging gangs back together and scope out where the cash will be handed out.

[sandyf]

2 hours ago, dinsdale said:

The digital wallet IMO will not see the light of day.

Digital wallet schemes have been seeing the light of day since covid.

Only those that weren't around much seem to think it is something new.

[thesetat2013]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

It remains to be seen how the cash handout will be received compared to the digital wallet project. The pragmatic shift to direct cash aims to deliver immediate relief, though it diverges from the initially envisioned, and arguably more modern, digital approach.

Pretty obvious to deduce the people will love getting the free money. It is a good scam paying off the poor so the government will be liked and voted for next elections. Especially now that they can use the cash for buying anything they want or desire. I would guess phone sales and alcohol sales will jump accordingly haha. 

[Olmate]

1 hour ago, redwood1 said:

This is a brilliant plan...

 

If EVERYONE  was to receive 10,000 then all the money would have to be paid out properly.....Because if anyone did not receive their 10,000 they would know and could demand their 10,000... 

 

Now if only 15 million got the 10,000 this would mean a whole lot of people would not be getting the 10,000...

 

So a person would not be 100% sure if they would get the 10,000 or not..

 

Now lets say only 10 million people got  the  10,000....This would be plenty of people for the news to do endless stories over and loads of interviews with the 10 million who got their 10,000...

 

The renaming 5 million peoples money could be diverted into a few of the right people accounts along with feeding plenty of the pigs at the trough ...

 

And the 5 million who did not get their 10,000 would be none the wiser about not getting their money....

You used to be indecisive but know your not sure anymore? What doubledutch rubbish from adoodling dandee USA resident thai belter! 

[mikebell]

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

 

Yes, but the good news is that some voters will remember this scam for the next election.

Thai voters have the memory of geriatric goldfish.  In any case their votes are not considered when forming a new Government or there would be a Move Forward regime in place.

[newbee2022]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

FILE - courtesy NBT Thailand

 

Thailand’s Pheu Thai-led government is set to give 15 million citizens 10,000 baht in cash, eschewing a planned digital wallet scheme. The “fragile” groups, primarily state welfare cardholders, are in line for this direct cash handout.

 

Under Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of influential Pheu Thai figure Thaksin Shinawatra, this move reflects a shift in strategy. Initially, the Pheu Thai party had championed a digital wallet project, a signature initiative conceived under Thaksin’s vision. However, the plan has faced delays and now seems unlikely to proceed.

 

The one-time cash payment aims to support individuals, who make up nearly a third of Thailand’s adult population. This shift in policy will cost an estimated 122 billion baht, sourced from a supplementary budget in the government’s Central Fund.

 

An earlier projection posited that around 45 million Thais aged 16 or older would take part in the digital wallet scheme. While more than 30 million people have registered for the digital wallet via the Stateway App, the government has yet to confirm if the initiative will ever be realized.

 

Former Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin had planned to roll out the digital wallets by the fourth quarter of the year. The digital wallet was designed for purchases of up to 10,000 baht on essential goods within residents' home districts. Prohibited items included luxury goods, alcohol, cigarettes, and services like spa treatments and fitness centres.

 

It remains to be seen how the cash handout will be received compared to the digital wallet project. The pragmatic shift to direct cash aims to deliver immediate relief, though it diverges from the initially envisioned, and arguably more modern, digital approach.

 

The government’s latest decision reflects a broader trend of using direct financial aid to support citizens in challenging economic times. Whether this will forge sustained economic improvement remains to be observed.

 

-- 2024-08-23

 

 

Get the ASEAN NOW daily NEWSLETTER - Click HERE to subscribe

Wasted borrowed money without any substantial benefit for economy. 

But maybe good enough for bribing 15 million people for the next election.

😳

[Ben Zioner]

That's nicely pragmatic.

 

Ben is impressed.

[Aussie999]

How will this be "transparent" so thais know which 15million, if in fact any, actually received it.

[OneMoreFarang]

24 minutes ago, mikebell said:

Thai voters have the memory of geriatric goldfish.  In any case their votes are not considered when forming a new Government or there would be a Move Forward regime in place.

The fact that Move Forward had the most votes at the last election is a sign that there are not just a few people who remember. 

[LennyW]

6 minutes ago, Aussie999 said:

How will this be "transparent" so thais know which 15million, if in fact any, actually received it.

Quote

The “fragile” groups, primarily state welfare cardholders, are in line for this direct cash handout.

These are probably not people familiar with iPhones and Apps!

[Jenkins9039]

A win against CBDC's 

[proton]

2 hours ago, 2baht said:

Where's the money and when do they get it???

 

They will just print it

[Maitdjai]

1 hour ago, mikebell said:

Thai voters have the memory of geriatric goldfish.  In any case their votes are not considered when forming a new Government or there would be a Move Forward regime in place.

 

Only in a very selective manner.

If they're interpreting something personally as negative, they have a memory like an Elephant.

That's why there is all this fuzz about a dead-born project (promise).

[Ben Zioner]

1 hour ago, Ben Zioner said:

That's nicely pragmatic.

 

Ben is impressed.

They could even improve that by giving everyone else a  one off 10000 Baht income tax credit valid 10 years. i.e you don't work? Get off your a$$ and we'll help you.