More than 210,000 people have been saved from court proceedings after defaulting on loans worth 38 billion baht thanks to debt mediation events organised nationwide over the past six months, says Justice Minister Somsak Thepsutin.
In total, 210,208 people had their debt problems settled at 77 debt settlement fairs, and the 78th aims to help a further 172,855 debtors shed 30.65 billion baht in unpaid loans and bad debts.
The fair runs from Thursday until Sunday at Impact Exhibition Hall 5 in Muang Thong Thani in Nonthaburi, Mr Somsak told the media.
Twenty-two financial institutions, including two state-run banks, are taking part in the 78th debt mediation programme.
A total of 75,025 people have been invited to negotiate bad debts worth 9.95 billion baht which have yet to go to court, along with 97,830 people owing 20.69 billion baht whose cases are in the court system now, said the minister.
Tussanee Pao-in, director-general of Legal Execution Department, said the department would facilitate mediation for those facing legal threats over their bad debts.
Large numbers of people with debt problems have already been helped by the ministry's legal dispute centres nationwide, but many more still need help, said Ruangsak Suwaree, director-general of the Rights and Liberties Protection Department.
Apinan Suntharanan, a deputy manager of the Student Loan Fund, said up to 57,000 people having difficulty repaying their debts have been helped through various options including a cutback on interest and fines and an extension of the debt payment period.
Wutipong, Piromyaporn, deputy director of Government Savings Bank, said the bank is offering various options for debt restructuring to alleviate the financial burden for people with problem debts.
