City expects a million to sign up

Registration from Jan 5 to March 31

BANGKOK: Up to one million Bangkok residents are expected to register under the government's anti-poverty scheme, said Charnchai Pawasuthikan, the city administration's social welfare chief.

Registration begins on Jan 5 and lasts until the end of March.

Mr Charnchai said people who came to Bangkok for work but whose households were registered elsewhere may also register with the city administration.

``However people can register only once, either here in the city or in the province,'' he said.

At least 10 million people live in Bangkok. However, only five million hold domicile registration.

A centre for poverty eradication would be set up at city hall while registration could be made at any district office. Each district office would be able to handle up to 1,000 applicants a day, he said.

Mr Charnchai said registration lists would be posted at district offices.

Registration started about a month ago in eight pilot provinces. Hundreds of thousands of people have already registered.

Interior Minister Wan Muhamad Nor Matha said three panels would start working on problems identified by the poor, such as their size of their debts, land redistribution and lack of jobs.

They would look at how to alleviate debt, distribute land to the poor and what jobs to offer them.

Agriculture Minister Somsak Thepsuthin said his ministry would help consolidate thousands of rai of unused land under the Natural Resource and Environment Ministry for redistribution.

The power to issue entitlements over the land rested with Deputy Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, who was in charge of the programme, Mr Somsak said.

--Bangkok Post 2003-12-23

Can you post the addresses of the district offices so I can go and sign up?

' centre for poverty eradication'

Don't sign up until the method of eradication has been explained

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