For 77-year-old Wimol Suanngam, the state welfare card is more than a monthly benefit. It represents a small measure of security in a life marked by hardship, disability and isolation.
Living alone in Surin province, Ms Wimol survives mainly on elderly and disability allowances. She had repeatedly submitted documents to apply for the state welfare card, but when the latest results were announced, her name was nowhere in the eligibility database despite completing the registration process through local officials.
