NAN, Thailand – An elderly woman died early Tuesday morning after collapsing at a state bank while attempting to appeal the revocation of her state welfare card benefits. Ngao Rokkrai, 65, who suffered from mobility impairment, hypertension, and diabetes, had chartered a vehicle to travel from her remote mountain village to a branch of the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) in Pua district on Monday to verify her identity. Witnesses said Ngao had been waiting in line since 1:00 p.m. Upon leaving the bank about two hours later, she lost consciousness. Emergency medical services transported her to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 4:30 a.m. Tuesday.
The deceased’s sister, Amprai Rokkrai, said the family is devastated, noting that Ngao had previously qualified for the welfare program. She urged the government to simplify procedures for elderly citizens living in remote areas. Local residents stated that many villagers on the mountain had recently lost their welfare benefits due to technical criteria, such as holding agricultural bank debts or owning old, dilapidated vehicles. Villagers added that traveling to the district town requires hiring private vehicles costing between 200 and 1,000 baht per trip—a significant expense borne solely to secure the monthly 300-baht welfare allowance vital for their living costs. (TNA)
