BANGKOK, Dec 21 (TNA) – Poor senior citizens who carry government welfare cards are happily and gratefully withdrawing the one-off 1,000 baht government subsidy for their medical expense.
The additional subsidy for the poor is aimed at helping senior citizens pay for their trips to hospitals and medical treatment. The one-time giveaway started today and recipients can withdraw the money from ATMs of state-run Krungthai Bank.
Recipients made long queues at ATMs in the Huay Khwang market in Bangkok from early morning. Some elderly people had security guards and younger people help them use ATMS to withdraw the money.
The Comptroller-General’s Department said recipients should not be worried about the withdrawal because there was not a deadline for it.
The additional subsidy for registered low income earners is for welfare card holders who are 65 years old and over. The group covers about 2.49 million people.
Recipients appeared happily withdrawing the money from ATMs and thanked the government for the help. Those who did not have health problems said they would spend the 1,000-baht sum to relieve their household expense.
Comptroller-General Sutthirat Ratanachote earlier said recipients could also use their welfare cards to spend the 1,000-baht sum at the groceries that received the cards. (TNA)
