RaoChana scheme launched without hitch, card considered for non-smartphone users
The RaoChana (WeWin) system did not crash when as many as 6 million people registered as soon as the website was launched on Friday morning, Kulaya Tantitemit, inspector general of the Finance Ministry, said.
Under the RaoChana scheme, people will be paid a Bt3,500 cash handout for two consecutive months.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed officials to come up with a special card that non-smartphone users can use to withdraw the money. He said officials are checking to see how this card can be used without people crowding in one place, he said.
The system is open for registration from 6am to 11pm daily until February 12, after which names of those who are eligible will be published on the RaoChana website. The first payment will be made on February 18.
People who do not have a smartphone can register on February 15 at the nearest branch of the Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives bank, the Government Savings Bank and Krungthai Bank. The Finance Ministry predicts some 31.1 million people will be eligible for the subsidy