Official teases digital wallet progress
Finance permanent secretary Lavaron Sangsnit insists significant progress in the government’s digital wallet handout scheme will become evident before the Songkran holiday.
Mr Lavaron said yesterday the project continues to move forward without interruption, with the working group responsible for receiving feedback from all sectors recently posing questions and seeking opinions from more than 100 organisations covering the public, government and private sector.
The questions related to issues identified by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) regarding the impact assessment on economic conditions and areas where people require government assistance.
He said the working group would forward the questions and responses to the Fiscal Policy Office, which serves as the secretariat of the digital wallet committee chaired by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.
The secretariat will then submit the questions and responses to the main committee for discussion before Songkran, said Mr Lavaron.
“We have completed the process of receiving feedback from all sectors,” he said.
The digital wallet scheme was a flagship policy during the Pheu Thai Party’s campaign.
The scheme distributes funds via digital wallets to up to 50 million people aged 16 and older, with each receiving 10,000 baht.
The funds are designated for use within the district specified on each qualifying individual’s ID card.
The project is estimated to cost 500 billion baht, likely financed through the issuance of loan bills by the Finance Ministry.
The digital wallet scheme has been delayed for several months as it is vetted, with opposition parties arguing the issuance of loan bills may conflict with the State Fiscal and Financial Discipline Act.
The NACC also expressed stiff opposition to the scheme.