Handouts of Bt3,000 or Bt1,500 will be given to 5.4 million people who earn less than Bt30,000 or Bt100,000 annually, who registered as “poor” before August.
Timelines have since become battlefields for a war-of-words between pro- and anti-government groups, as well politicians and supporters of the Pheu Thai and Democrat parties.
In response to government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd’s remark that the scheme was not populism but state welfare, @RITT41 wrote on Twitter, “A handout is a handout. No matter what you call it, it’s a handout.”
@teacherwarat replied, “A rice purchase is a rice purchase. Why did you call it rice pledging?”
On Facebook, Achara Deboonmee wrote, “The government is also considering another spending-promotion measure. If you pay tax at the 10 per cent rate and spend Bt15,000 in one go, you will be eligible for a tax deduction of Bt1,500. Last year, over 2 million people (including me) spent a total of over Bt1,500 billion because of this measure, which added 0.2 per cent to economic growth.”
But she said businesspeople were the real beneficiaries from this measure.
Wanchalerm Satsaksit wrote:
“If the money is given away, there will be no productivity and it will be gone in one month. But if [the government] provides rice mills which farmers can come to use, they can be used to support the people in heavy rice-farming
areas. This will upgrade community rice mills. Otherwise, this money could be used for OTOP promotions and a lot of people would have jobs. I don’t know why the NCPO can’t figure this out.”
At Pantip.com’s forum, member No 3535307 wrote, “This is helping the rich. The poor can spend Bt3,000 in one day – that’s not enough for investment. The poor will use it to buy their everyday necessities or to eat or travel. The result is the money will go to wealthy people’s businesses in places such as shopping malls. They will be able to sell more without needing extra promotions.”
Member No 3496384 wrote, “This can stimulate the economy. Though it is temporary, it is better than nothing.”
Member No 3517463 replied, “How can this be called good?  Spending Bt12.75 billion in a split second!?”
U Pai Ruey wrote, “[The government is] being generous. It’s giving away money. So don’t forget to boost zero-baht tourism and develop exports too.”
The debate on Twitter was also fierce. @b969 tweeted “[The government] should give away rice rather than money. That would double the benefit by helping low-income people and rice farmers, and stop it from being accused of helping businesspeople.”
@OakkyzaCZ wrote, “Why does the government give money to the poor? Why not give them books and teach them to work and earn money?”
@botza69 took aim at spokesman Sansern’s words: “‘So that [the low-income people] can live happily with narrower social gap and with dignity.’ Wait! How much do you give them? Bt3,000 or Bt3 million?”
@To0_PoP asked, “Which companies’ shares will benefit from the cash handout policy?”
@political_drama wrote, “The cash handout for the poor will not make anyone rich. The money will be given directly to the poor, [so there’s] no way anyone can abuse and take advantage of the scheme.”
The Thailand Development Research Institute (@TDRI_thailand) wrote, “The cash handout policy can only increase purchasing power in the short term but will not have a long-term effect that will attract more investment.”