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129871
Sat, 06/26/2010 - 15:16
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http://m.oananews.org//node/129871
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Finance ministry to ask Cabinet to extend low income earner measures
BANGKOK, June 26 (TNA) -- In an attempt to help low income earners facing current economic hardship, Thailand’s Ministry of Finance plans to ask the Cabinet Tuesday to extend three economic assistance programmes for another six months until the end of December.
Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said he would ask the Cabinet during its weekly meeting that government economic assistance programmes be extended as the current government assistance is due to expire Wednesday.
The government allocated Bt4.54 billion to the programmes during the extended three-month program which ran from April 1 through June 30.
The planned extension, according to Ekniti Nitithanprapas, macroeconomic adviser to the Fiscal Policy Office, requirew the government to allocate some Bt8 billion for the programmes.
Under the present assistance programmes, about eight million households using less that 90 units of electricity per month enjoy the benefit as they do not need to pay for electricity, passengers can travel free on about 800 buses traveling on 73 routes in the capital and passengers can travel free on 172 third-class trains daily.
Mr Korn also said he will confer with his deputy Man Pattanothai next week on Mr Man’s proposal to reduce retail oil prices by Bt2 per litre.
Mr Man proposed that retail oil prices be lowered if finished oil products are imported as oil refinery costs are still high in Thailand.
But Mr Korn said he believed the current strong Thai baht currency could offset costs of imported oil while oil prices globally would not be much different if they carry the same standards.
The government’s subsidy program includes breaks on water and electricity bills. Numerous people also benefit from free bus and train services. (TNA)
Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said he would ask the Cabinet during its weekly meeting that government economic assistance programmes be extended as the current government assistance is due to expire Wednesday.
The government allocated Bt4.54 billion to the programmes during the extended three-month program which ran from April 1 through June 30.
The planned extension, according to Ekniti Nitithanprapas, macroeconomic adviser to the Fiscal Policy Office, requirew the government to allocate some Bt8 billion for the programmes.
Under the present assistance programmes, about eight million households using less that 90 units of electricity per month enjoy the benefit as they do not need to pay for electricity, passengers can travel free on about 800 buses traveling on 73 routes in the capital and passengers can travel free on 172 third-class trains daily.
Mr Korn also said he will confer with his deputy Man Pattanothai next week on Mr Man’s proposal to reduce retail oil prices by Bt2 per litre.
Mr Man proposed that retail oil prices be lowered if finished oil products are imported as oil refinery costs are still high in Thailand.
But Mr Korn said he believed the current strong Thai baht currency could offset costs of imported oil while oil prices globally would not be much different if they carry the same standards.
The government’s subsidy program includes breaks on water and electricity bills. Numerous people also benefit from free bus and train services. (TNA)
