Bangkok: The Deputy Minister of Transport is set to propose a revision to the welfare card criteria, excluding vehicles older than 20 years and motorcycles older than 15 years from eligibility. The Minister has also tasked transport officials nationwide with addressing complaints related to unusable vehicles or those with improper "transfer of ownership" documentation to aid in appeals.
According to Thai News Agency, Deputy Minister Siripong Angkasakulkiat explained that the Ministry of Transport regrets any inconvenience caused by these vehicle ownership restrictions, which aim to identify eligible individuals for assistance but have faced limitations. He directed the Director-General of the Department of Land Transport and transport officials to fully support the public in navigating the process following the announcement.
The current criteria for the state welfare card stipulate that recipients must not own a vehicle, with exceptions such as motorcycles with an engine capacity not exceeding 300 cc, three-wheeled vehicles, four-wheeled hire vehicles, and one agricultural vehicle per person. However, the Ministry has received numerous complaints about issues with old, unused, or improperly documented vehicles. In response, the Ministry will urge the Ministry of Finance to reassess the criteria and present the revisions to the Cabinet.
Deputy Minister Siripong elaborated on complaints about vehicles not reaching their service life limit but being unusable, unregistered, or improperly transferred. He assured that the Department of Land Transport will investigate such cases and support appeals. Citizens are encouraged to report these issues to their local transport office, providing proof of sale or a written statement if necessary.
To assist those facing transportation access challenges, the Department of Land Transport has introduced a form in partnership with the Department of Provincial Administration to facilitate citizen access. The Ministry is committed to easing public burdens and has also addressed complaints regarding students outside formal education. Adjustments to the criteria will include eligible students to ensure educational continuity and consider other poverty-related factors.
Deputy Minister Siripong noted that these adjustments are essential due to the original criteria's limitations and are intended to accommodate the diverse lifestyles of the populace. He expressed confidence that the revised criteria will be both suitable and thoughtfully designed.