Finance Ministry to distribute SIM cards for poor

BANGKOK, Nov 15 (TNA) -- The Finance Ministry will provide the low income earners with SIM cards and monthly fee subsidies in a bid to uplift their quaity of life and help them from poverty. Finance Minister Apisak Tantivorawong said his ministry planned to hand SIM cards and monthly fee subsidies to the poor who are the holders of the government welfare cards to give them easier access to the internet. They could help increase the income of the poor, he said. According to him, the Finance Ministry has not settled the amount of the subsidised monthly fees. Besides, it has not concluded if the poor should also receive free smartphones. At this stage, the project will use the internet services of TOT Plc. Mr Apisak said that second-phase assistance for the poor focused on income increase, job creation and education so that they would be free from poverty. The assistance will initially go to people earning not more than 30,000 baht a year. (TNA)