Govt starts offering money to low-income earners

BANGKOK, Dec 12 (TNA) - Three state-run banks have started paying assistance money, a one-time subsidy for cost of living to help low-income earners and the payments is expected to be completed by the year-end as New Year gifts to the people. Government spokesman Lt Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the Krung Thai Bank, the Government Savings Bank and the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives had started paying money to registered low-income earners since last Saturday. Under the government requirements, those earning less than 30,000 baht annually will be entitled to receive 3,000 baht and for those earning less than 100,000 baht yearly will receive 1,500 baht. The spokesman said nearly seven million people have registered with the three banks.Of the total, about 3.8 million are entitled to get the 1,500 baht and 3.1 million will receive 3,000 baht handouts. (TNA)