A customer visits a pawnshop operated by the Chai Nat municipality on Thursday. (Photo by Chudate Seehawong)Parents are once again turning to pawnshops to raise money for children's school uniforms, text books and other necessities ahead of the new academic year, which begins on Monday. In Chai Nat, the director of the pawnshop operated by Chai Nat Municipality, Nanthiya Pongthong, hastened to assure clients there was enough cash at hand for their needs. Pawnshops have increased their cash holdings to cater for demand and some also offer discounted interest rates to ease the burden on parents. BMA-run pawnshops have also increased their back-to-school cash reserve to 100 million baht, up from 86 million baht last year.

Source: Bangkok Post May 11, 2017 09:45 UTC