From now and for the next few months to come, certain officials at the Transport Ministry are supposed to busy themselves trying to find the real poor — or the criteria to identify them — as they are eligible for the free bus and train programme.
The extra work is an instruction from the government, the Transport Ministry in particular, which feels the need to obtain such information before it decides whether to scrap or adjust the programme which is a heavy financial burden on the state.
The state allocates about 300 million baht a month to the debt-ridden Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) and 82 million baht for the State Railway of Thailand (SRT).
Initially, Transport Minister Prajin Juntong told the media he wanted to scrap the programme. But the proposal sparked an outcry from many in society who believe the scheme, initiated in 2008 by the Samak Sundaravej government as a temporary measure to ease economic difficulties for poor people, is still necessary. In fact, every government has reviewed this so-called populist programme which has been criticised by some economists who suggest this amount of money should be used for other development programmes. But all the subsequent governments have kept it, including the Prayut Chan-o-cha administration. I, too, think the programme should be kept even given the current economic situation which is now worse than in the late prime minister's time.
Quick to calm public concerns was deputy government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd who assured the programme will be maintained but it may need to be adjusted to cater only to the genuinely poor.
The deputy spokesman said the programme is now open to all and those who are not really in need happen to make use of the free service that is meant for those at the low end of the social spectrum.
Among those who are not qualified, according to Maj Gen Sansern, are "big groups of tourists" and "something really needs to be done to block those 'free riders'". The new measures, including half-price tickets, should be in place from August.
Yet, I have no idea where the deputy spokesman got his information from. But his comments show that he, like other senior government officials, especially those at the Transport Ministry, has never set foot on a free bus or train.
If so, he would know that those with other better transport choices, like air-conditioned buses, or taxis, would not opt for free transport.
In fact, it's safe to say our transport system shows the "class" system that exists in our society. Forget the electric rail system, MRT or BTS. They are simply off-limits to the poor or those with meagre incomes.
But this is not to say that the free bus service is bad. On the contrary, from my first-hand experience (I have used the service quite a few times, mostly when rejected by taxis, and I needed to leave that particular spot where taxi drivers targeted foreign tourists to where I could travel on using other transport modes), the service is quite impressive. Most bus drivers are polite and service-minded. Even more surprisingly, some free buses are available after 10pm (for those working night shifts).
Instead, I'm talking about the condition of the buses. Of the 800-bus fleet the BMTA allocated for this programme, most if not all are in a sorry state. More importantly, the bus fleet which covers only the routes where the cream and red BMTA buses operate, does not encompass the whole city, and there are complaints they are often broken down.
SRT trains (to which I believe foreign tourists have no access as the service requires a Thai ID card to be shown) have similar problems. Thais can ride for free only in third class.
"Free riders", like me, exist. But let me assure you, the number is so small that it's not worth the effort to find the criteria and additional measures which at this stage are likely to be either another type of ID card to show they are not well-off, or coupons). There may be a registration system for the poor. Isn't that too complicated?
My advice to the minister and the deputy spokesman: get on a free bus or train sometimes. It's an eye-opening experience.
Ploenpote Atthakor is Deputy Editorial Pages Editor, Bangkok Post.