The Japanese government has used a surprising measure to solve its long-time recession. Under that special economic measure, 700,000 million yen was distributed free to underprivileged people in the form of shopping vouchers. The people, who can receive this free coupon, include children under 15 years old, sick or disable persons, and persons of over 65 years with low income.  Each eligible person will receive 20,000 yen (about 6,000 baht) for personal expenses. This coupon is valid for only 6 months since the date of receipt.  It cannot be exchanged for cash but can only be used to buy goods and services. In a way, the scheme is somewhat a social welfare programme.

Under this economic scheme, there are some 35 million people to be eligible in this special programme.  The government hopes that the multiplying effect of this expenditure amount could be as high as 10 times of the original amount. It means the amount will create income for the Japanese for as much as 7,000,000 million yen in only 6 months.

A Comparative Case in Thailand

In Thailand, the government has now enough budget to help the poor.Just yesterday, Minister Supatra Masdit said the government has the budget of 113,481 million baht to spend on a number of social projects to also help the poor. However, the government will first let the people have a say on its plan to help them survive the economic crisis. To gather the public's view on how the government should spend the budget to really benefit the poor, the Interior Ministry will spend 36 million baht on staging forums to let villagers nationwide exchange their views with officials concerned, she said. Such forums will be emphasised and closely assessed in 12 provinces, namely Nakhon Nayok, Chanthaburi, Ubon Ratchathani, Loei, Chiang Rai, Phitsanulok, Petchaburi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Yala,Ayutthaya,Mahasarakham and Nakhon Sawan. No doubt, these target provinces are strongholds of only big Democrat MPs.

The decision belongs to the National Social Policy Committee, headed by Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai, and the cabinet is likely to endorse it today. The assistance will be broken down into 92,503 million baht worth of projects to be conducted by the rural development policy committee; 10,060 million baht worth of projects by the Interior Ministry to support local administration organisations like tambon councils and tambon administration organisations; a 6,522-million-baht loan package to minimise the social impact of the economic crisis; about 2,000 million baht worth of projects to develop village groups; 1,695 million baht in rural development funds and loans from the Government Savings Bank; a 500-million-baht rural job creation and service fund; and the Interior Ministry's 200-million-baht fund to strengthen communities.

Meanwhile, Mrs Tuanjai Deethes, secretary-general of the Hilltribe Development Foundation, commented yesterday that the government kept talking about the amount of the budget but failed to come up with a concrete action plan on how to spend the sum effectively. Some persons said this is the NATO (no action but talk only) government.

(February 23, 1999)