BANGKOK, July 10 – Relatively few children went to apply for the ID cards at district offices in Bangkok on Sunday, however, in the southern province of Yala, children flocked to register for ID cards on the first day of Children ID card registration under the Identity Card Act 2011, requiring all Thais from the age of seven to have ID cards.
Although the only children seen at Bangkok district offices to have ID cards issued were at Chatuchak and Dindaeng district offices, parents welcomed the idea for children to have ID cards to seek welfare from the government.
Ratchaneerat Klongpetch, mother of an eight-year-old girl said she agreed to have her daughter issued an ID card so she does not need to bring many documents when seeking state welfare services. A child ID card could be used to replace the need for a birth certificate and housing registration document, she said. However, she was concerned that small children might lose their ID cards, so she said she would keep it for her child before giving it to her to carry later.
Wanniwat Nethipipatkul, father of a 12-year-old boy said he welcomed the law as it facilitates children contacting government offices and seeking any government service. It would also help children practice responsibility in safeguarding their own important documents.
An official at Din Daeng district noted that few parents brought their children to apply for ID cards on the first day of registration on Sunday because of a lack of public relation campaigns, so the public did not know the law has already come into effect.
District offices in Bangkok have extended operating hours for issuing children ID cards–from 8 am to 6 pm Monday to Friday and 8 am to 4 pm on weekends–until September 30.
In contrast to Bangkok, the southern province of Yala saw a large number of parents bringing their children to apply for the ID cards.
Apinand Suethanuwong, deputy governor of Yala, and Seree Panichkul, Muang district chief, observed the registration of children ID cards at the district office on the first day for children aged 7-14.
The district chief said the district officers would set up mobile units at locations including private schools and Islamic religious schools (or Ponoh schools) for on-site service to issue ID cards for children.
About 16,200 young people in the provincial seat and outer areas of the Yala municipality are eligible to apply for the ID cards, he added.
