Shops in BKK ready to accept welfare cards next week

NONTHABURI, Oct 10 (TNA) – Registered low income earners in Bangkok and six other provinces will be able to use their cashless welfare cards, issued by the government to buy consumers goods at Pracharat Blue Flag discount shops next week. After low income earners in other provinces have already used to welfare cards to offset the cost of living, their fellows in Bangkok and six other provinces will be able to use the cards on Oct 17 at Pracharat Blue Flag shops. Director-General of the Department of Business Development, Kullanee Issadisai said her department is selecting the shops for installation of the Electronic Data Capture (EDC) machines for welfare card users. About 700 shops in Bangkok applied to join the campaign. After the selection, the department will forward the list to the Finance Ministry to speed up installing the machines. So far, 88 shops in Bangkok are equipped with ECD machines. About 500,000 poor people in the capital carry the government’s welfare cards. Meanwhile, more machines will be installed in provinces and the Finance Ministry targets to complete installation of at least 8,000 EDC machines across the country by the end of this month. (TNA)