Payment via e-welfare cards nearly reaches target

Nonthaburi, Nov 24 – The use of electronic welfare cards for the poor almost hits the government’s target. Deputy Commerce Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong said that since Oct 1 when the welfare card scheme started, the registered poor people had spent more than 5 billion baht via the cards. It showed that more than 90% of 11 million registered poor people already used the welfare cards. He also said that the number of shops equipped with e-welfare card readers would reach 18,000 nationwide as targeted within the end of this month. When the installation of the card readers is complete and all registered poor people receive their welfare cards, the payment will exceed 6 billion baht and thus strikes the government’s target, Mr Sontirat said. According to him, the owners of 30,000 shops applied to accept payment with e-welfare cards and the Commerce Ministry is conducting a survey to find out if the project will need more than 18,000 shops that the government earlier set. When the survey shows the answer, the Commerce Ministry will discuss the issue with the Finance Ministry to later set budgets for the e-welfare scheme, Mr Sontirat said. (TNA)