By Thai Newsroom Reporters
THE MOVE FORWARD TODAY (Feb 23) advised the Pheu Thai-led government to supplement some 180 billion baht in funding to all local administrations nationwide to add to the same amount readily available for use by them for the time being.
Given today’s national economic situation which is apparently taking a longer time to recover than earlier anticipated, the government was suggested by deputy Move Forward leader Sirikanya Tansakun to supplement some 180 billion baht in funding from the fiscal 2023 budget which is roughly equal to the combined funds being readily available for use by all local administrations.
The combined fund could practically stimulate the local economies throughout the country, Sirikanya said. To begin with, she said, some 60 billion baht of the total 180 billion baht in government funding could be provided for the time being, she said.
Given such financial aid from the government, all local administrations will have a combined 360 billion baht in total funding with which they could take steps to boost the local economies in all respective districts and subdistricts nationwide, she said.
The deputy Move Forward leader-cum-MP advised the Pheu Thai-led government never decidedly wait for the much-heralded digital wallet project or any other mega-billion economic plans to be implemented whilst leaving the grassroot economies in stalemate at the moment.
The national economic recovery and development are practically supposed to begin with the local economies in a bottom-up fashion instead of a top-down manner, according to the Move Forward MP.
Former Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat has earlier suggested the government prepare a Plan B to stimulate the national economy in case that the populist handout project pledged during last year’s electoral campaign may finally fizzle out.
The handout campaign for which a sum of 500 billion baht in loan is to be found to finance it apparently remains far from legal clarity and might probably be downsized or put off beyond May.
The Pheu Thai-initiated, vote-wooing campaign was originally designed for each Thai national aged 16 years or over to buy a maximum of 10,000 baht in goods and services via their digital wallet in the boundaries of their home district in a six-month period.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has earlier said the populist campaign will not only promote domestic consumption and stimulate local economies on a short-term basis but strengthen the national economy and the country’s GDP in the long run.
CAPTIONS:
Top: Deputy Move Forward leader Sirikanya Tansakun, left, and Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, right.
Front Page: Former Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat speaking at the Parliament today, Feb, 23, 2024. Both photos: Matichon
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