Thailand needs welfare schemes based on rights not charity, experts say

14 Sept 04:10 Key points summarised by AI

Experts criticize Thailand's popular welfare card scheme as ineffective in tackling poverty, noting its failure to improve living standards despite a surge in registrants to 22.2 million.
Academics advocate for a fundamental shift from charity-based welfare, which addresses immediate need, to rights-based progressive policies that ensure basic services and uplift overall quality of life.
Political parties are leveraging the welfare card and other populist schemes to attract voters, despite concerns over the scheme's substantial annual cost (34.9 billion baht) and its impact on other potential public investments.
Historical analysis reveals a regression in Thailand's welfare policies, with recent schemes often deemed mere charity rather than progressive initiatives, prompting calls for more sophisticated, rights-focused reforms.

Lamphun in a New Light

Today 15:02 Key points summarised by AI

Lamphun illuminates its ancient city with two concurrent light festivals: the high-tech VIJIT Thailand @ LAMPHUN and the traditional Hundred Thousand Lantern Festival.
VIJIT Thailand @ LAMPHUN transforms historic landmarks into an outdoor gallery, using projections and multimedia to animate Lamphun's history, including Queen Chamadevi's story.
The Hundred Thousand Lantern Festival, part of Yi Peng, fills temples and streets with countless traditional lanterns, symbolizing Buddhist devotion and personal wishes.
These festivals offer a unique after-dark experience, blending contemporary light art with centuries-old Lanna traditions, connecting visitors to Lamphun's past and faith.