Songkran gift

He said each of them would receive Bt500 starting on April 13, the first day of the Songkran holiday break and the National Day for Senior Citizens. Witoon was speaking during a ceremony at a school in Ubon Ratchathani, where he delivered 1,000 blankets to people living in Muang Sam Sib district that was hit by extra cold weather.

Also, all 800,000 village volunteers working for local public health offices and communities across the country will be given a Bt600 monthly allowance from March 20. The family of each government retiree that dies after April 13 will receive Bt2,000 in funeral expenses.

He also told locals that the government had approved a law to make possible free 15-year compulsory education. Parents would be directly given money from the government for school supplies and equipment.