Udon low-income earners get their pawned tools redeemed

Udon low-income earners get their pawned tools redeemed

A ceremony is held at a pawnshop in Udon Thani to return work tools to their owners. (Photo: Yuttapong Kumnodnae)
A ceremony is held at a pawnshop in Udon Thani to return work tools to their owners. (Photo: Yuttapong Kumnodnae)

UDON THANI: Some low-income earners in this northeastern province who pawned their work tools for emergency cash have got their items back for free -- thanks to a redemption project initiated by governor Nirat Pongsithithaworn.

Under the project aimed at freeing low-income earners from debts with pawnshops and give them the opportunity to start anew, Mr Nirat helps redeem the pawned items and returns them to the owners.

At the Easy Money pawnshop on Udon Dusadee road in Muang district, the governor on Tuesday presided over a ceremony to return a number of redeemed work tools to their owners.

The ceremony was attended by Sawat Teeraratanukulchai, chairman of the Udon Thani Chamber of Commerce, and a number of local businessmen.

Mr Nirat said the money for the redemption of the pawned items did not come from his own pocket but from a number of "kind and generous" businessmen in the province sympathetic with low-income earners who had to pawn the tools they use to make a living -- such as sewing machines, blenders, washing machines and musical instruments -- for money to feed their families.

After getting back the tools necessary for their work, the low-income people can restart their occupations and make money again, he said.

On Tuesday, a total of 192 items were redeemed for 189,326 baht, free of interest -- and the pawnbroker, Easy Money, also contributed 40,000 baht to the project.

Mr Nirat said contributions from businessmen to the project have exceeded 1 million baht.

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