The second phase of the government's welfare and subsidy scheme for the poor, focused on helping those who are at the bottom rung of the income scale to cross the poverty line, is expected to begin next year.
The Fiscal Policy Office (FPO) will report the results of a study of the second phase of the government's assistance scheme to the Finance Ministry on Nov 20. The package is expected to be finalised by December, said finance permanent secretary Somchai Sujjapongse.
The Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) and Government Savings Bank will lead the second phase. The former will be offering training programmes for the poor in the agricultural sector, while the latter will take care of those living in urban areas.
Mr Somchai has instructed the FPO to look at packages that will help the poor access financial sources, education, employment and basic needs.
"If low-income earners receive the opportunity, I believe they can escape from poverty," he said. "We initially discussed [the measures] but nothing has crystallised yet, as we need cooperation from related state agencies including the Industry Ministry, the Commerce Ministry, the Education Ministry and the Labour Ministry, as well as the private sector."
Finance Minister Apisak Tantivorawong said recently that Government Savings Bank and the BAAC were assigned to introduce job training courses to the government's welfare recipients as part of the second phase after the government offered smart cards for buying consumer goods in the first stage.
The two banks will also offer savings products and loans to the poor at special interest rates.
On Aug 29, the cabinet approved a new aid package worth 41.94 billion baht for low-income earners. The package was offered to 11.7 million qualified low-income earners who registered with the state agency.
Under the scheme, the government transferred 200-300 baht a month to each welfare smart card. Recipients earning under 30,000 baht a year got a monthly allowance of 300 baht and those with annual earnings of 30,000 baht to 100,000 baht got 200 baht to buy low-priced consumer products at Thong Fah Pracha Rat shops and other designated stores.
Each cardholder also received 1,500 baht a month for subsidised transport, with 500 baht each for inter-provincial public buses, third-class trains, and local public buses and electric trains.
