Around 12.5 million people have signed up for the government’s poverty aid programme, with the registration due to end today, permanent secretary for finance Somchai Sajjapongse said on Monday.
Registration opened on April 3.
Mr Somchai said the government will not extend the registration period. People who have an annual income of less than 100,000 baht should make sure they quickly apply so they would be entitled to state assistance.
About 13 million people were expected to have signed up for the scheme by the time registration ends on Monday afternoon, he said. This was below the target of 15 million, probably because the public relations campaign had not penetrated remote areas, which meant some villagers were unaware of the scheme.
Mr Somchai said the ministry is considering assistance measures for those living below the poverty line.
The government launched its assistance programme for the poor in 2016, when some 8.27 million people applied. Almost 7 million were accepted.
The administration gave on-off cash handouts to those who were registered, providing 3,000 baht per person to those earning up to 30,000 baht a year. Those earning from 30,000 to 100,000 baht a year were entitled to 1,500 baht.
During the first-year, criticism flared that some well-to-do people had exploited the programme and obtained the cash handouts.
This year, the government is replacing blanket poverty assistance cash handouts with electronic payments under the national e-payment scheme, where welfare and subsidies can be directed to the recipients.