Bangkok: The People's Party has raised concerns about the government's recent adjustments to the welfare card criteria, which they assert were a mistake that resulted in citizens being unjustly deprived of their rights. Veerayuth Kanchuchat, a Member of Parliament from the People's Party and Chairman of the Economic Development Committee, criticized the government's handling of the criteria changes, pointing out that the entire Cabinet shared the blame for the errors that led to widespread disqualification of individuals. According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Veerayuth addressed a press conference to express his concerns over the revised criteria for the State Welfare Card. He emphasized that the controversy surrounding the card and the subsequent disqualifications were due to the Cabinet's collective incompetence, not just the Ministry of Finance or the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. The decision, made by the Cabinet on July 14th, included input from the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Anutin Charnvirakul. Veerayuth criticized the lack of attention to important factors such as vehicle age requirements and the needs of vulnerable groups, highlighting previous issues with tax-deductible eligibility that excluded parents from benefits. Furthermore, Veerayuth pointed out the potential impact on farmers, who could be disproportionately affected by the criteria related to land ownership and debt. Farmers with land exceeding 10 rai, the set maximum for eligibility, might fall below the poverty line if productivity is not considered. The debt threshold of 100,000 baht also fails to accommodate the reality that most farmers have debts exceeding this limit. Veerayuth called for a more comprehensive approach that incorporates data from multiple agencies to ensure a fair assessment and prevent individuals from being excluded based on narrow criteria. Adding to the discussion, Mr. Sittiphon Wiboonthanakul, Vice Chairman of the Economic Development Committee, agreed with the need for budget review but criticized the government's inconsistent policies and flawed screening system. He cited issues from June where tax deductions were mishandled, reflecting a pattern of poor coordination and inadequate solutions. Sittiphon questioned the effectiveness of the alternative Thai Help Thai Plus 60:40 program, given its short timeline and financial demands on already struggling individuals. Sittiphon also highlighted the burden placed on the public to appeal disqualifications, arguing that the government should take responsibility for proving citizens' eligibility rather than shifting this responsibility onto those in need. He advocated for integrated efforts from government agencies to better address the hardships faced by the populace.
