PM pleased' with report on reduction in poverty last year
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is satisfied with the government's efforts to reduce poverty after a report by the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) said the number of poor people in the country had declined last year, government deputy spokeswoman Traisuree Taisaranakul said on Saturday.
According to the NESDC report on poverty last year, the number of poor people dropped to 6.24 per cent (4.3 million) from 9.85 per cent (6.7 million) in 2018, she added. The report attributed it to the economic expansion and the government's measures to help low-income people.
She said that the figure suggested that Thailand had met its goal in the 12th national economic and social development plan, which targets reducing the number of those below the poverty treshold to 6.5 per cent at the end of next year.
However, it remains to be seen if Thailand can maintain this pace until the end of next year as this year Thailand is suffering the severe impact of the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak, she added.
