'Why is it so difficult to prove we really are poor?'

Some lucky to be in on welfare scheme, others more deserving rejected

Sa-ard Nakchaturas sits in front of her ancient motorcycle at her house in Muang district, Nakhon Ratchasima, on Monday - with a plea for those in power to accept her as a poor citizen deserving of help. (Photo: Prasit Tangprasert)

NAKHON SAWAN/NAKHON RATCHASIMA - It is fifth time lucky for Somnuek, who finally received a state welfare card after four rejected applications.

But not everybody is as lucky as the 57-year-old and many shockingly failed to qualify for the 2026 state welfare card programme after the government of Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul re-evaluated all holders of the "card for the poor" in a bid to screen out citizens who only pretended to be poor.

To date, 6 million people have been found ineligible, while 9.5 million have been accepted.

Those who failed the selection process can appeal online or in person at any of the five state banks.

Mr Somnuek, who did not disclose his last name, on Monday recalled his many fights to get onto the welfare scheme, being rejected time and again because he owns a small plot of land.

"It is only 2 ngan (200 square metres) and my ancestor handed it down to me," he said at Krungthai Bank's Tak Fa branch in Tak Fa district.

"Do I have to stay in a rat-hole to be accepted as poor?" he complained.

Mr Somnuek was eventually successful with his latest application and said the money he  will receive as a holder of the card for the poor would ease some household pain by paying for utilities.

But he still questioned why one of his neighbours continues to get these benefits although that household has two 10-wheel trucks. (continues below)

Somnuek stands with his wife by his side at Krungthai Bank in Tak Fa district in Nakhon Sawan. It took five attempts to prove  he is poor. (Photo: Chalit Phumruang)

Sa-ard Nakchaturas, 64, of Muang district in Nakhon Ratchasima, does not have a lorry. What she does own is an ageing motorcycle with a sidecar - and that was enough for the government to drop her from the list of the needy.

Ms Sa-ard said her motorbike was bought 20 years ago to help her husband, 73, who is a scrap buyer, and it remains an important tool as age takes its toll on their energy.

"My motocycle is very old, it is almost beyond being usable," she said.

Ms Sa-ard must travel to the provincial land transport office to show proof of her old motorcycle's age before she can appeal her rejection from the welfare programme, but said  she does not have the money or the energy to do that.

"I could not get the card because of this motorcycle," she said in tears while pointing to the only means of transport the couple possess.

Money from the scheme previously helped Ms Sa-ard and her husband buy rice, drinking water and other staples. They no longer have that prop.

"We're really poor with almost nothing to eat," she said when asked if she had a message for the authorities. "Please look at us, and take care of the grassroots people, like me."

Supranee Daosuk, 39, of Sikhiu district, Nakhon Ratchasima, faced a different problem.

Her mother suffers from chronic illness, including cancer, and they had relied on the programme for household purchases. She was disqualified this time around, with no reason given in the message sent to her mother’s mobile phone.

"Why is it so very difficult to prove we really are poor?" she asked.