SHOULD THAIS BE ELATED BY 10,000 BAHT CASH HANDOUTS?
By Pravit Rojanaphruk, Senior Staff Writer -September 29, 2024 12:43 pm
82-year-old Mrs. Suthawai received 10,000 baht from the government and went shopping for the first time at a market. She visited the Khlong Chao Market, Moo 7, Khlong Luang Phaeng Subdistrict, Mueang Chachoengsao District, on September 27, 2024.
Some of the 14.5 million poor people who hold state welfare cardholders and the physically handicapped were elated this week as they withdrew their 10,000 baht cash handout from a nearby ATM, thanks to the government’s cash handout scheme, formerly known as the 10,000 digital wallet handout scheme. Some cried, at least one reportedly fainted, others beamed with joy as they smiled and gave thumbs up in front of news photographers. One elderly woman told the press she wishes that Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra will continue to be PM for life.
The first phase of cash handouts, in an attempt to stimulate the flagging economy, covers 14.5 million Thais. Some are using the amount received to repay loan sharks while Interior Minister Anutin Charnveerakul said earlier this week that police can arrest any loanshark coercing debtors to hand over all the 10,000 baht cash handout withdrawn on spot from an ATM booth.
Ten thousand baht is roughly 300 US dollars. It’s definitely no small sum for poor people in Thailand. It’s roughly equivalent to what a minimum wage earner can make in a month. One admitted to the local press she had never held this much amount of cash in her life until this week.
In Bangkok, earlier this week, a five star hotel organized a culinary celebration where Michelin stars chefs from around the world were invited to cook for wealthy Thais and expats in Bangkok and a dinner for one prepared by a three-star Michelin chef goes for 14,900++ baht per person, including wine pairing.
Meanwhile, it’s not uncommon for some prominent Thai politicians to be found in public wearing luxury wristwatches costing in excess of a million baht or more, an amount most of these 14.5 million Thais will unlikely not be able to obtain in their entire life. Meanwhile, some opponents of the government made fun of how quickly these poor people spend their effortless cash that they received.
Soon enough, the sum will be used, (and hopefully the economy stimulated by 145 billion baht injected, and more in phases 2 and 3) and the poor will return to being poor, and mostly in debt again. I am happy for them, however. At least some had a few good meals and a real smile and fleeting joy as a result. Some may have to pay up some or all of their debt owing to a loan shark. Even if some used the money to buy booze, gamble, or smoke weed, I am okay with it as long as they didn’t use it to buy drugs.
All this is a reminder that economic and social inequality are real and a pressing issue in this society. When income disparity among members of the same society is so wide, it’s hard to convince all to share a common dream and concerns for the society.
Some poor people can’t comprehend the obsession of the educated middle-class on the lese majeste law and freedom of expression, while well-to-do Thais wonder why the poor are so prone to vote buying, directly and indirectly. It’s as if they inhabit two different socities that they both called Thailand. Truth be told, the poor and marginalised have little, if nothing to lose. This is something the cash handout won’t be able to solve.
What I am concerns about is what comes next? Will this be just a one-off attempt to reboot public spending or will it lead to various political parties competing to promise to the electorate they will get even a bigger sum in the future if they vote for the party.
Also, could anyone earnestly try to explain how it differs from vote buying – albeit using tax payers’ money?
I understand why many praised PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra, and also understand if millions more will vote for the ruling Pheu Thai Party comes the next general election.
Many people seem to not understand that such scheme must be handled most carefully otherwise poor people will come to expect more cash handouts in the future and consider it the most important political policy any major political party can make.
As it is, some Thais don’t see the difference between cash handout scheme and having proper social safety net for the poor and vulnerable in Thailand. That is very worrying, indeed....
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By Pravit Rojanaphruk, Senior Staff Writer -September 29, 2024 12:43 pm
82-year-old Mrs. Suthawai received 10,000 baht from the government and went shopping for the first time at a market. She visited the Khlong Chao Market, Moo 7, Khlong Luang Phaeng Subdistrict, Mueang Chachoengsao District, on September 27, 2024.
Some of the 14.5 million poor people who hold state welfare cardholders and the physically handicapped were elated this week as they withdrew their 10,000 baht cash handout from a nearby ATM, thanks to the government’s cash handout scheme, formerly known as the 10,000 digital wallet handout scheme. Some cried, at least one reportedly fainted, others beamed with joy as they smiled and gave thumbs up in front of news photographers. One elderly woman told the press she wishes that Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra will continue to be PM for life.
The first phase of cash handouts, in an attempt to stimulate the flagging economy, covers 14.5 million Thais. Some are using the amount received to repay loan sharks while Interior Minister Anutin Charnveerakul said earlier this week that police can arrest any loanshark coercing debtors to hand over all the 10,000 baht cash handout withdrawn on spot from an ATM booth.
Ten thousand baht is roughly 300 US dollars. It’s definitely no small sum for poor people in Thailand. It’s roughly equivalent to what a minimum wage earner can make in a month. One admitted to the local press she had never held this much amount of cash in her life until this week.
In Bangkok, earlier this week, a five star hotel organized a culinary celebration where Michelin stars chefs from around the world were invited to cook for wealthy Thais and expats in Bangkok and a dinner for one prepared by a three-star Michelin chef goes for 14,900++ baht per person, including wine pairing.
Meanwhile, it’s not uncommon for some prominent Thai politicians to be found in public wearing luxury wristwatches costing in excess of a million baht or more, an amount most of these 14.5 million Thais will unlikely not be able to obtain in their entire life. Meanwhile, some opponents of the government made fun of how quickly these poor people spend their effortless cash that they received.
Soon enough, the sum will be used, (and hopefully the economy stimulated by 145 billion baht injected, and more in phases 2 and 3) and the poor will return to being poor, and mostly in debt again. I am happy for them, however. At least some had a few good meals and a real smile and fleeting joy as a result. Some may have to pay up some or all of their debt owing to a loan shark. Even if some used the money to buy booze, gamble, or smoke weed, I am okay with it as long as they didn’t use it to buy drugs.
All this is a reminder that economic and social inequality are real and a pressing issue in this society. When income disparity among members of the same society is so wide, it’s hard to convince all to share a common dream and concerns for the society.
Some poor people can’t comprehend the obsession of the educated middle-class on the lese majeste law and freedom of expression, while well-to-do Thais wonder why the poor are so prone to vote buying, directly and indirectly. It’s as if they inhabit two different socities that they both called Thailand. Truth be told, the poor and marginalised have little, if nothing to lose. This is something the cash handout won’t be able to solve.
What I am concerns about is what comes next? Will this be just a one-off attempt to reboot public spending or will it lead to various political parties competing to promise to the electorate they will get even a bigger sum in the future if they vote for the party.
Also, could anyone earnestly try to explain how it differs from vote buying – albeit using tax payers’ money?
I understand why many praised PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra, and also understand if millions more will vote for the ruling Pheu Thai Party comes the next general election.
Many people seem to not understand that such scheme must be handled most carefully otherwise poor people will come to expect more cash handouts in the future and consider it the most important political policy any major political party can make.
As it is, some Thais don’t see the difference between cash handout scheme and having proper social safety net for the poor and vulnerable in Thailand. That is very worrying, indeed....
อ่านข่าวต้นฉบับได้ที่ : https://www.khaosodenglish.com/feat...-thais-be-elated-by-10000-baht-cash-handouts/
