The move is part of a plan to give citizenship to thousands of stateless children who are eligible to be Thai citizens.

The provinces with less than 1,000 stateless children include Kalasin, Kamphaeng Phet |and Ayutthaya, Government Spokesman Maj-General San-sern Kaewkamnerd said yesterday.

Sansern said for provinces with more than 1,000 stateless children – such as Ranong, Kanchanaburi and Trat, the premier had ordered governors to directly supervise the process as this would indicate the administrative ability of governors and district chiefs.

He said this was to ensure eligible youths whose names had already been sent to district chiefs would become Thai nationals, so they could access welfare services.

It is hoped the move will reduce social inequity.

As of July 7, there were 78,175 students without Thai nationality – 20,337 of whom were |eligible to receive it. So far 9,277 people had applied for citizenship and 5,728 children had got it.

Sansern said the number was too low, which he blamed in large part on operational issues and a lack of information being given to affected families.