Elderly Woman Denied Welfare Card, Pleads for Re-examination
A 65-year-old woman in Buriram was rejected from the government welfare card program despite severe poverty, prompting her to ask authorities for a second review of her eligibility.
On July 17, residents, farmers, and elderly people gathered at the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) branch in Lamplaimat, Buriram, to verify their eligibility for the government welfare card—both existing and new applicants following a fresh screening round. Most visitors attempted to check their status online, with some celebrating their approval while others faced disappointment after failing to meet the required criteria. Nipawarn Danprom, 65, from Hinkhon subdistrict, was devastated when told she did not qualify for the new welfare card round. She wept at the bank, having hoped to use the funds for necessities for herself and her grandchildren. With only a senior citizen pension and sporadic money from her children, she relies entirely on this assistance to survive. She emphasized her genuine hardship—no car, only a small plot of land for shelter—and pleaded with authorities to conduct a second review of her eligibility.
