Mizoram minister announces cash award for having maximum number of children
The infertility rate and the decreasing growth rate of the Mizo population has become a serious concern.
Mizoram Sports Minister Robert Romawia Royte, on Monday, has announced a cash incentive of Rs 1 lakh to a living parent with the highest number of children in his constituency, to encourage population growth among the demographically small Mizo communities.
The person will also get a certificate and a trophy, the minister said, and the cost of the incentive will be borne by a construction consultancy firm owned by his son. However, Royte did not mention the minimum number of children.
The declaration came at a time when several Indian states are advocating a population control policy.
The minister from Aizawl East-2 assembly constituency said that the infertility rate and the decreasing growth rate of the Mizo population has become a serious concern.
"Mizoram is far below the optimum number of people to attain development in various fields because of the gradual decline in its population. The low population is a serious issue and hurdle for small communities or tribes like Mizos to survive and progress," Royte said.
Royte also informed that some churches and influential civil society organisations like the Young Mizo Association are advocating a baby boom policy to encourage population growth for ensuring optimum size vis-a-vis the area of the state.
Mizoram's population was 10,91,014, according to the 2011 census. The state covers an area of approximately 21,087 square kilometres.
With only 52 persons per square kilometre, Mizoram has the second lowest population density in the country next to Arunachal Pradesh, which has a population density of 17 persons per sq km. The national average is 382 per sq km.
(According to PTI news agency)
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