Bangkok: Ekniti Nitithanprapas, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, conducted a survey at the Thonburi Fresh Market alongside senior executives from Krungthai Bank to assess the initial rollout of the "Thai Help Thai Plus" program. This initiative aims to alleviate the financial burden on citizens amid rising living costs due to the Middle East conflict. Ekniti personally engaged with the program by purchasing peeled coconuts using the app, which boasts a 60% government subsidy, making it both user-friendly and cost-effective. Despite opposition plans to scrutinize budget allocations, Ekniti expressed confidence in the program's transparency and efficacy. He also noted that eligibility for low-income individuals lacking welfare cards or smartphones will be reviewed by the Cabinet.
According to Thai News Agency, Ekniti, accompanied by Krung Thai Bank CEO Mr. Payong Srivanich, visited participating shops to evaluate their readiness and the benefits utilization under the program. Citizens actively engaged with the project, expressing a desire for an increase in the daily spending limit from 333 baht, as well as a rise in the monthly cap from 1,000 baht to 1,500 baht. Ekniti emphasized the government's commitment to easing the high cost of living, exacerbated by the global crisis stemming from regional conflicts.
Ekniti demonstrated the app's scanning process himself, purchasing a peeled coconut for 60 baht and paying only 24 baht via the app. He recommended vendors utilize the "Whispering Bird" application to analyze sales data effectively, aiding them in identifying peak sales periods and supporting loan applications. The AI-powered tool provides daily sales summaries, crucial for financial planning and potentially reducing reliance on informal lenders.
The Thai Help Thai Plus project, boasting over 1,050,000 participating shops, is an evolution of the previous "Half-Price Co-Pay" initiative. Despite opposition calls for budget scrutiny, Ekniti assured the public of the program's transparency and digital fund distribution via Pao Tang and Thung Ngern systems. He highlighted the digital payment systems' benefits to merchants and vendors.
Ekniti addressed the remaining 3 million entitlements, explaining that these funds could support other government initiatives to mitigate public hardship. He stressed that the project's primary goal is to ease citizens' economic burdens rather than stimulate the economy. For those without smartphones, a new eligibility verification process will be discussed at the upcoming Cabinet meeting, focusing on integrating welfare card systems to assist low-income individuals.
Ekniti also encouraged those eligible not to rush spending their allocated funds, as the 1,000 baht monthly limit remains flexible. He reassured citizens that the government's aim is to provide adequate support without necessitating competition for benefits. Meanwhile, Krung Thai Bank reported that the first few hours of the program saw 170,000,000 baht spent across 1.1 million transactions, engaging nearly 900,000 users.
The Thai Help Thai Plus project continues to accept applications until July 31st, urging merchants and citizens who haven't yet joined to register and take advantage of the program's benefits.