The Interior Ministry has registered 37,579 people seeking government help to pay off debts exceeding 1.5 billion baht to loan sharks nationwide.
Sutthipong Chulcharoen, permanent secretary for the interior, said on Sunday that a combined total of 1.53 billilon baht was owed to 19,061 loan sharks across the country.
Bangkok saw the highest number of informal debtors, 2,496, followed by 1,610 debtors in Songkhla (who owed 131.89 million baht in informal debts), 1,489 debtors in Nakhon Si Thammarat (49.76 million baht), 1,441 borrowers in Nakhon Ratchasima (61.88 million baht) and 965 debtors in Samut Prakan (38.53 million baht).
Mr Sutthipong said people unable to pay off loan sharks could seek help at debt.dopa.go.th, provincial halls, district offices or hotline 1567.
The Interior Ministry was inviting informal debtors to register for help as Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin recently promised to solve indebtedness for people, he said.