Political activist Panupong Jadnokled led a protest outside the Finance Ministry yesterday, urging the government to rehabilitate people affected by COVID-19 fairly.
Panupong “Mike” Jadnok and protesters with the Ratsadon group submitted a letter to the ministry demanding equal aid for people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic while criticising the administration’s latest “Rao Chana” (We Win) handout scheme.
Under the 210-billion baht scheme, approved by the cabinet on Tuesday, the state will provide a total of 7,000 baht per person over two months to cover 31 million people affected by the pandemic.
The letter said the government should give 3,500 baht to everyone aged 18 years and older for three months and subsidise people’s utility bills for at least three months, while students should receive tuition discounts and subsidies for their online learning expenses.
The group also urged the government to import COVID-19 vaccines and inoculate everyone equally.
Mr Jadnok gave the government seven days to respond to the Ratsadon group’s demand.
The group would hold a bigger protest next time if there was no progress by the deadline, he said.
According to the terms and conditions of the Rao Chana scheme, workers who are members of the Social Security Fund and those with an annual income exceeding 300,000 baht and with savings of more than 500,000 baht as of 31st December last year do not qualify.
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