Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat assured the public today that disbursement of the 10,000 baht benefit, under the third phase of the cash handout scheme, will be in either May or June as scheduled.
He said that the online disbursement system for the money has already been arranged with financial institutions and there should be no problem, adding that the Cabinet is expected to approve the third phase of the scheme at its meeting next week.
In this phase of the scheme, about 2.7 million Thais, aged from 16 to 20, will each receive 10,000 baht in “digital money”, which will cost taxpayers 35 billion baht.
The deputy finance minister dismissed an allegation from a group of academics and activists that the government is having to use budget allocated for loan repayments to fund the digital wallet scheme.
The group has asked the National Ani-Corruption Commission to investigate the conduct of the previous administration, led by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, the incumbent administration and parliament over the legality of the endorsement of the scheme.
Under the first phase, disabled people and those holding state welfare cards received 10,000 baht each, wired into their bank accounts. People over 60 have received the same financial support under the second phase.
People aged between 21 and 60 will be the last group to receive the benefit.
