Mizoram Minister Proposes ₹1 Lakh Reward for Parents with the Most Children in his Constituency

AIZAWL:

To stimulate an increase in population among the demographically sparse Mizo communities, a Mizoram minister has proposed a monetary reward of Rs 1 lakh for the living parent with the most children in his constituency. 

However, the Mizoram Sports Minister did not specify the minimum number of children. 

On Father's Day, Mr Robert Romawia Royte stated that he would provide a monetary incentive of Rs 1 lakh to the living person with the most number of offspring in his Aizawl East-2 assembly seat. 

The person fulfilling the criteria will also receive a certificate of recognition and a trophy, said the minister on Monday. 

The expense of the incentives would reportedly be paid by a building consultant business controlled by Mr Royte's son. 

According to the minister, the Mizo population's infertility rate and falling growth rate have become a major problem. 

"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," Mr Royte said. 

He stated that certain churches and prominent civil society organisations, such as the Young Mizo Association, are calling for a baby boom strategy to stimulate population increase in order to ensure the state's optimal size in relation to its territory. 

According to the 2011 census, the population of Mizoram was 1,091,014. The state has a total land area of roughly 21,087 square kilometers. 

Mizoram has the country's second-lowest population density, after Arunachal Pradesh, with 52 persons per square kilometer.

This announcement to increase the population of ethnicMizoram Mizo tribal groups comes after several Indian states adopted a population control plan to combat overpopulation and the challenges that accompany it. 

Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chief Minister of Assam, said on Friday that his government will strictly adhere to the two-child norm while determining beneficiaries for all welfare schemes in the coming days.

The two-child policy, originally proposed by the BJP-led government of Assam in 2017, aims to control the state's rising population, which has been hampering overall growth and development in the state, according to CM Himanta Biswa Sarma.

According to the Chief Minister, since the State Government has already started implementing the population control policy, the selection of beneficiaries for the Government's various welfare schemes will henceforth be based on the two-child norm. The Chief Minister has said, however, that the Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, and the Tea Tribes are excluded from this. 

Following in the footsteps of Assam, Uttar Pradesh is preparing to pass a population control policy. According to reports on Sunday, the state Law Commission has begun drafting a version of a population control bill. If the law is passed, those who violate the two-child rule will lose access to some UP government services. In two months, the Law Commission will present its assessment to the Yogi cabinet. 

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