Increased pay for village-based public health volunteers not meant to woo votes: Satit

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

DEPUTY DEMOCRAT LEADER Satit Pitutacha today (Mar.6) categorically denied the government’s measure to increase the monthly pay for all village-based public health volunteers is primarily designed to woo votes.

Satit who concurrently performs as deputy public health minister confirmed his agency has planned to raise the monthly pay for all village-based public health volunteers nationwide from 1,000 baht to 2,000 baht effective in October.

The deputy Democrat leader said the measure which is very likely to pass approval from the cabinet tomorrow is by no means designed to boost popularity among those volunteers for a certain coalition partner in the current run-up to a general election.

“It’s a commonplace political phenomenon for the government to do anything in favour of the people but we have not just begun to do it now,” Satit said.

He admitted such government measures could probably be viewed by critics as a vote-wooing tactic whilst all parties are conducting electoral campaigns nationwide.

There are currently one million-plus village-based public health volunteers in all provinces throughout the country, including 35,000 newly registered ones who will also be entitled to the 2,000-baht monthly pay, according to the deputy public health minister.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has earlier confirmed an increase in the monthly pay for all levels of local administrative officials ranging from heads of provincial administrative organisations to municipalities and subdistrict administrative bodies nationwide will be effective in October.

Prayut who is contesting the general election to prolong his rule under the Ruam Thai Sang Chart banners maintained that the increased pay for those local officials is only part of the measures gradually implemented by the Ministry of Interior and categorically denied it was merely meant to woo votes from among those who are currently attached to some 7,850 administrative bodies throughout the country.

CAPTION:

Deputy Democrat leader-cum-Deputy Public Health Minister Satit Pitutacha with some village-based public health volunteers, above, and attending a meeting, Front Page. Top photo: Matichon, Front Page photo: Thai Rath

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