Page 61 - Social Indicators 2013

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Social Indicators 2013
5.2.2 Social Welfare for the Elderly, the Disabled or the Disadvantaged
Persons
Public sectors and relevant agencies in the past years, have
recognized and prioritized all the measures and policies to provide the social
welfare for the elderly, the disabled and the disadvantaged persons. More
importantly, the government puts very much attempts in capturing all the
targeted groups and making the measures and policies sustainable.
Due to the changes of economic, social and environment including
demographic changes, it is however affecting the social welfare measures and
policies of the government. For example, Thailand is now approaching to the aging
society, there were 7.3 million of the elderly in 2013; increased of about 2 million
within 3 years, budget for monthly cost of living provided to the elderly was nearly
double from 32.7 million baht in 2010 to 58.3 million baht in 2013. In this regard,
the Thai government must allocate much more budget to support these vulnerable
groups of people in the future.
Table 5.4 Number and Budget Spent on Social Welfare for Elderly and Disabled Persons:
2010-2013
Subject 2010 2011 2012 2013
Number of Elderly (person) 5,652,837 6,521,749 7,045,894 7,342,028
Budget spent on Elderly (baht) 32,778.9 37,893.4 53,608.37 58,347.04
Number of Disabled persons (person) 837,259 997,950 1,249,203 1,247,484
Budget spent on the Disabled persons (baht) 3,587.22 5,987.70 7,495.22 7,485.00
Source: Office of Promotion and Protection of children, Youth, the Elderly and Vulnerable Groups.