About 3.2 million Thais already given 5,000-baht relief grant

Source: Xinhua | 2020-04-17

About 3.2 million Thai people have already been given a sum of 5,000 baht (about 153 U.S. dollars) in monthly relief grant each from the government, a senior government official said on Thursday.

Lawaron Sangsanit, spokesman of Thailand's Ministry of Finance, confirmed an estimated 3.2 million Thais have electronically received the 5,000-baht grant with many more yet to be provided the money as part of the government's relief measures for those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

More than 27.5 million people nationwide have applied online for the relief grant since late last month though the Ministry of Finance earlier projected some three millions to be entitled to it.

Nevertheless, about one million applicants, who have been denied the government grant online, are expected to petition the ministry for review from the upcoming Monday, the spokesman said.

The relief grant for the 3.2 million people totaled about 15 billion baht (about 460 million U.S. dollars), which was covered by the government's Central Fund for current fiscal year, Lawaron said.