Poor queue to withdraw govt's B500 New Year handout

Poor queue to withdraw govt's B500 New Year handout

Welfare card holders queue to withdraw the 500-baht New Year cash handout from the government at the Bua Yai branch of Krungthai Bank in Bua Yai district, Nakhon Ratchasima province, on Monday. (Photo by Prasit Tangprasert)
Welfare card holders queue to withdraw the 500-baht New Year cash handout from the government at the Bua Yai branch of Krungthai Bank in Bua Yai district, Nakhon Ratchasima province, on Monday. (Photo by Prasit Tangprasert)

Registered poor people flocked to ATMs of state-owned Krungthai Bank nationwide to withdraw the 500-baht New Year giveaway from the government that cost taxpayers 7.25 billion baht.

In Nakhon Ratchasima, very long queues formed at ATMs of KTB's Bua Yai branch in Bua Yai district early Monday morning as welfare card holders checked the balance of their accounts and withdraw the handout, which the government began depositing on Saturday.

Nearby vendors and taxi motorcyclists were the immediate beneficiaries, with some admitting they had earned more than 1,000 baht a day over the weekend. Recipients expressed their happiness with the bonus payment, saying that although only 500 baht it was a meaningful amount for rural people.

In Narathiwat province, beneficiaries hurried to local ATMs from late on Sunday night after a rumour spread that the gift would be recalled if they were slow to withdraw it.

A happy Kamareeya Uma of Sungai Padi district confirmed hers was paid and said such assistance from the government should continue.

Growing queues were reported at ATMs in Mae Sot district of Tak province, where some people carried a stack of welfare cards to the withdraw money for friends or relatives who could not personally make the trip.

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