Only 1.58 million low income earners registered for free state welfare, benefits

BANGKOK: -- Low income earners still do not show enough interest to register for free state welfares and benefits as so far only 1.58 million people have registered since registration opened on July 15.

But after the state has finished detailing the state welfare and benefits they will obtain from the registration, the number of low income earners registered will certainly surge, said Finance Minister Apisak Tantiworawong yesterday.

Registration is still opened until August 15.

Finance Minister Apisak said that since the start of the registration on July 15 until now, only 1.5 million people have voluntarily registered.

He said the numbers were considered low compared with the government’s projection.

But he believed that the low turnout was because the low income earners did not realize what benefits they could gain after the registration.

However he expressed optimism that more low income earners would register when the state could release details of all benefits they would get.

For those who have registered, electronic cards would be issued for them.

The card could be used to discount or exempt the fares for transportation services like bus, train, electric train, he said.

Besides, elderly allowances for low income earners would be increased, subsides for cooking gas price would be offered and other benefits would be granted to help easing cost of living.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/1-58-million-low-income-earners-registered-free-state-welfare-benefits/

-- Thai PBS 2016-08-01

...surely too much going on....that they would not want to risk ruining.....