Free electricity, tap water and public bus extended for 6 months

Meanwhile, it also extended the 6 measures to stem cost of living, excluding the oil excise tax, for another six months. The council also agreed to modify details of the extended measures, to ensure that only the low-income would benefit from the measures.

Deputy Prime Minister Korbsak Sabhavasu said households eligible for electricity subsidies will be limited to those use 80-100 units a month. The benefit is now given to households consuming no more than 150 units a month.

 "Still, the government has no plan to lower value-added taxes as well as corporate taxes," he said.

The government also plans to extend the agricultural products pledging programme to cover rubber and palm oil, under the Bt110 billion budget approved by the previous government. The previous government offered the pledging programmes for rice, corn and tapioca and now about Bt60 billion has left.

The government will also set aside about Bt30 billion to sponsor the 15-year free tuition programme, targeting to reach 13 million students.

It will also speed up the budget disbursement of rural administrative bodies, with clear plans slated for January 9.

"All measures would be gradually executed. At the latest, it would not be later than April 1. The central budget would first be used to finance the programmes. Related agencies are required to submit details of the spending to the Cabinet next week," Korbsak said.