BANGKOK, March 26 (TNA) - Thousands of low-income earners on Thursday scrambled to receive 2,000-baht (US$56) ‘Help-the-Nation’ cheques at Bangkok's City Hall as part of the government's campaign to help boost local consumption to spur a sagging economy amid the global economic meltdown.
The Social Security holders occupied a long queue from as early as 5am Thursday to get the 2,000 baht cheques which could be cashed in at a nearby counter of the Bangkok Bank.
Thursday was the first day the cheque was handed out to those who currently earn less than 15,000 baht per month (US$423) in the capital and other provinces nationwide.
Kongjai Harnchai, an assistant teacher at a kindergarten in Bangkok's Samsen area who was the first recipient of the Help-the-Nation cheque from Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, said she would photocopy the cheque as a keepsake and would then cash it to buy subsistence items.
Ophat Tanphrae, a vendor given Social Security coverage, said the money was not much but it could alleviate today’s economic hardship.
He suggested the government should provide similar financial aid for the jobless as well.
Speaking to reporters after launching the Bt19 billion (US$509 million) programme, the prime minister said the cheques would help stimulate the country's economy for a better standard living for low-income earners.
"The government does not want the recipients to spend the cheque on luxury items but to spend it in a way that would be of great benefit for their lives that would in turn help boost the country's economy through buying Thai products and holidaying in Thailand," the premier said.
Meanwhile, Korn Chatikavanij, Finance Minister, said the cash handouts would help boost the economic growth about 0.2 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) and create about 80,000 jobs in line with the government's stimulus package.
Around 10.5 million people who earn less than 15,000 baht per month and registered members of the Social Security Fund are entitled to receive the subsidies.
The handouts are part of a Bt117 billion stimulus package announced by the prime minister in January to prop up an economy which is projected to be contracting 2.5 per cent this year as the country's export sector declined for four consecutive months. (TNA)
Business News : Last Update : 18:45:30 26 March 2009 (GMT+7:00)
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