Thai Cabinet approves over Bt4b budget for development in deep South

BANGKOK, February 6 (TNA) - The Cabinet has approved a state budget of over 4 billion baht to fund development projects in Thailand's southern border region, aimed to eventually solve violence in the deep south. Thai Government Spokesman Tosaporn Serirak told journalists on Tuesday that the over-4-billion budget, approved by the Thai Cabinet at its weekly meeting earlier in the day, will be divided into two main parts, some 1.59 billion baht of which will be used for sponsoring the improvement of education systems in the troubled Thai far South, covering the promotion of both Thai and Islamic Tadika schools and the development of local teachers' quality of life, and another some 637 million baht will be used for paying compensations to victims of the violent unrest, supporting security and mitigation missions of local rescue volunteers, as well as setting up a Malayu radio broadcasting station and local defence volunteer units. Besides, the Cabinet also approved a specially-long holiday during the traditional Thai New Year or Songkran festival this year, from April 12-16, to support people's reunion with their families nationwide. (TNA)