Thailand's Welfare Card Holders Halved: Genuine Poverty Reduction or Stricter Eligibility?

The Thai government has announced the results of its eligibility screening for the National Welfare Card, formerly known as the 'Poor Card,' revealing that only 9.5 million out of approximately 18.8 million applicants met the criteria. This figure represents about 14% of the Thai population. Winai Wisetphasuwanphum, Director-General of the Fiscal Policy Office and spokesperson for the Ministry of Finance, stated that this percentage aligns with the World Bank's estimate of approximately 12% of Thailand's population living below the poverty line, defined as an annual income of around 100,000 baht. The revamped National Welfare Card program is part of a broader initiative by Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who campaigned under the slogan "Enough is enough, can't get any richer." This initiative aims to help citizens escape poverty through new policies and the continuation of successful programs from previous governments. Notable policy developments include the evolution of the 'Khon La Khrueng' (Half-Half) scheme into 'Khon La Khrueng Plus' and the introduction of 'Thai Chuea Thai Plus 60/40'. The screening process involved 12.70 million existing cardholders, 0.74 million individuals without cards based on the Department of Community Development's database and electronic family pocketbook system, and an additional 5.38 million individuals identified by the Ministry of Interior during the registration period. From this pool, 9.5 million were deemed eligible based on stringent criteria. Existing eligible cardholders can continue to use their cards from August 1st, while new beneficiaries will be able to access their rights starting October 1st, 2024. For those who did not qualify, a relief measure offers participation in the 'Thai Chuea Thai Plus 60/40' project for two months (August and September). Their names will be automatically entered into the system, requiring no new registration; they only need to confirm their acceptance of the offer. Individuals who were disqualified can appeal for a review of their eligibility until July 31st, 2024. Corrected information will be verified by August 16th, 2024, with a final decision on appeals announced on September 21st, 2024. Those who successfully appeal will also begin receiving benefits from October 1st, 2024. Source: INN News