Bangkok: "Thepthai" has declared his support for the Ministry of Finance's initiative to screen "poverty alleviation cards" to ensure that only the truly impoverished benefit from these rights. He criticized the Prime Minister's directive to reassess tax deduction criteria, urging the government to prioritize integrity over vote-seeking.
According to Thai News Agency, political observer Thepthai Senpong expressed his support on his Facebook page, "Thepthai - Political Talk," for the Ministry of Finance's efforts to verify low-income cardholders' eligibility. The Ministry's regulations aim to ensure that welfare cards are only distributed to those genuinely in need, excluding individuals pretending to be poor. Several conditions and rules have been established to this end.
Controversy has arisen, particularly on social media, over the use of parental care benefits as a tax deduction. The Ministry argues that if children claim this deduction, it indicates they are supporting their parents, who should then be ineligible for welfare benefits. This has sparked a debate about whether the deduction is a legitimate tax strategy or an exploitation of the system.
The policy has led to criticism of children who are perceived as ungrateful when their parents lose eligibility for welfare cards due to claimed deductions. Parents, eager to retain their welfare benefits, resist the use of their names for tax purposes, prompting accusations of familial discord. This controversy prompted Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to direct Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas to reevaluate the policy.
As an independent political analyst, Thepthai believes the Ministry's stringent eligibility measures are justified. The government has historically allowed many ineligible individuals to hold welfare cards, despite the National Economic and Social Development Council's estimation of 4.5-5 million truly impoverished people. Presently, welfare cardholders receive a meager monthly subsidy of 300 baht.
Thepthai argues that reducing the number of ineligible welfare cardholders to the truly poor could increase monthly support to 1000-1500 baht per person, significantly enhancing their ability to sustain themselves. He opposes any relaxation of the eligibility criteria, acknowledging the challenge of revoking previously granted rights in Thai society. He stresses the need for the government to maintain principled governance rather than succumbing to electoral pressures.
In conclusion, Thepthai endorses the Ministry of Finance's rigorous measures to verify state welfare card eligibility, advocating for a principled approach to assist genuinely impoverished citizens.