Low-income earners flocked to Thong Fah (Blue Flag) Pracha Rat cut-price stores across the country to buy consumer products as the state-sponsored welfare cards for the poor took effect Sunday.
As of noon Sunday, 114,751 people had used welfare cards at Thong Fah shops, amassing 28.79 million baht in outlays.
Officials say 143 people used the cards to buy bus tickets, racking up total spending of 46,182 baht, said Suttirat Rattanachot, director-general of the Comptroller-General's Department.
However, multiple shops experienced slow functioning of the card readers, known as electronic data capture (EDC) devices, which caused long queues of customers. Many card-holders, meanwhile, appealed to the government to increase the amount of money covered by the cards.
The scheme's recipients earning under 30,000 baht a year will receive a monthly living allowance of 300 baht and those with earnings in the range of 30,000 baht to 100,000 baht per year will get 200 baht a month for living allowances to service basic needs at participating shops.
In Si Sa Ket, a long queue formed at the cashier's counter of a Thong Fah shop in tambon Muang Tai of Muang district. Many bought consumer goods, such as soap, toothpaste, washing powder, shampoo, milk and rice. A local resident, Sirilak Boonrin, 37, thanked the government for helping low-income people. She said she bought cooking ingredients and other necessities for 314 baht from the shop by using the card.
As 300 baht is all that's covered by the card, she needed to pay an additional 14 baht. She said this scheme helps ease her financial burdens.
In the province, glitches in the EDC devices' signal connections were reported. Many customers, particularly the elderly, meanwhile misunderstood the cards can be used at the beginning of the month only. This caused long waits at cashier counters for many shops.
In Buri Ram, low-income earners from Muang and Huai Rat districts flocked to a Thong Fah shop in tambon Isan of Muang district from early morning. Most of them said they spent money in line with the amount given in the card.
Glitches in the internet connection for the card readers were reported here too, leading to queues.
Chid Nikulram, a resident of Huai Rat district, said she bought necessities for herself and her mother, who actually owns the card. She needed to show a document saying she could use the card on behalf of her mother. She said her district still has no Thong Fah shop under the scheme and she had to travel more than 10 kilometres to buy products at a Thong Fah shop in Muang district. She said she wants the government to expand the money assistance in the card.
In Songkhla, various Thong Fah shops were crowded with people, many of whom formed queues even before shops opened. Reports also emerged of the EDC devices functioning slowly.
Local Yuphadi Kaophong said the welfare card offered her convenience as she does not need to carry much money. The scheme also helps ease her household's financial burdens.
In Nakhon Ratchasima, a Thong Fah shop in tambon Nong Pai Lom of Muang district was crammed with customers the whole day. Most of them purchased basic necessities.
Benjamas Patchima, a 47-year-old resident, said she spent 200 baht on food and will use another 100 baht on the next occasion.
Jakarin Cherdchai, an owner of eight shopping stores, named Mor Ya Plaza, said all of his shops were bustling with people using the welfare cards from early morning. The programme could help rejuvenate the grassroots economy after a long sluggish period, he noted.
Welfare card-holders are also entitled to 500 baht a month for intercity bus fares, 500 baht a month for train fares, as well as another 500 baht for city bus and electric train fares. In Surat Thani, a 61-year-old man, Lek Promdee, was the first welfare card-holder who purchased a bus ticket at Surat Thani bus terminal. He said he would travel from Surat Thani to Bangkok on Monday.
The cards have been distributed to low-income earners since Sept 21. About 11.67 million people qualified for the scheme.
Their distribution was delayed in seven provinces to Oct 17 due to technical issues as the cards need to be attached with chips used for electric train and city bus services. These provinces, which cover 1.3 million welfare card-holders, are Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Ayutthaya, Samut Prakan, Nakhon Pathom and Samut Sakhon.
Ms Suttirat said less than 50% of those eligible for welfare cards have turned up to receive the documents.
As a one-off while the scheme settles in, the department will roll over the money left unused this month to next month, Ms Suttirat said. Poor internet connections caused problems with the EDC devices, but that happened only in some areas and was solvable.
More than 5,000 EDC devices have been installed in the Thong Fah shops across the country, and the number will rise to 8,000 in the first week of this month, covering all tambons nationwide.