BANGKOK: Thailand's government has announced its readiness to begin registration of recipients of the digital wallet scheme on Thursday (Aug 1).
Smartphone users can register from 8am through the government application "Thang Rat", Chai Watcharong, spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, said on Wednesday (July 31).
"It will be the first day of the opening of registration and identity verification for the digital wallet scheme, and after that the registration can be done 24 hours," he said.
Meanwhile, those without smartphones can register in the next round, which runs from Sept 16 to Oct 15.
The locations will be announced later by the government. An individual must use an ID card and verify their qualifications in accordance with the house registry to be able to spend the 10,000 baht handout.
To ensure that the government is well-prepared to facilitate public registration, the spokesperson said that it has worked with the Digital Economy and Society Ministry, the Finance Ministry, and other relevant agencies to establish 5,199 walk-in service points across the country to assist with registration and enquiries.
The walk-in service stations will operate from August 1 to September 15.
Staff will be available to assist individuals with smartphones who require help registering during business hours at the following locations:
1,722 community digital centres
1,200 post offices (excluding authorised post offices (private) and service shops)
1,047 Government Savings Banks nationwide
1,238 Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives
People who are interested in learning more information, news, and details, can visit the website www.digitalwallet.go.th or www.digitalwallet.government.thailand and the information service centre hotline 24 hours.
"The government believes that the 10,000 baht digital wallet scheme would be an important economic whirlwind in income distribution, sparking spending and finally creating money in circulation in all areas across the country from the foundation level," he said.
He added that the scheme would also help to alleviate the burden of living costs, encourage people and communities to be self-sufficient, expand career opportunities, and serve as a solid foundation for the country's digital economy.
"The digital wallet scheme will help promote innovation in digital technology that will benefit the economy and society in the future," he said. - The Nation/ANN
