Bangkok (VNA/NNT) - The Thai Ministry of Interior has instructed local offices to review student rosters of educational institutions to establish the number of stateless students and determine who may be eligible for Thai citizenship.

Permanent Secretary for Interior Krissada Boonrach revealed that the ministry has initiated a project to provide stateless individuals with Thai citizenship to address the issue of statelessness among students. He said the project also serves to tackle the problem of human trafficking.

According to an ongoing investigation that began in January last year, the number of stateless students stands at more than 69,600. Of this figure, over 45,200 have been evaluated and almost 19,800 were determined to be eligible for Thai citizenship. Those who qualify have been informed to report to their local registration offices.

So far, more than 8,700 stateless individuals have requested Thai nationality and about 5,500 of them have been provided with citizenship.

Krissada said relevant officials have been assigned to implement and closely monitor the programme, while coordinating with local school administrators to raise awareness.-VNA