To Encourge Population Growth Mizoram Minister Rewards Couples With Most Children

Aizawl: Mizoram State Sports Minister Robert Romawia Royte has awarded Rs 2.5 lakh to 17 parents, who claimed to have most number of children in his constituency of Aizawl East-II.

Earlier in June, on Father's Day, Royte had honored the parents with the most number of children to encourage population growth among Mizo communities.

Royte gave away a prize of Rs one lakh rupees in cash to Ngurauvi, a widow from Tuithiang area, who has 15 children and seven of them are sons.

Another woman, Lianthangi, a resident of Chhinga Veng locality who has 13 children was given a second prize of Rs 30,000 and a citation.

The Minister also awarded 20 thousand rupees and a citation to two women and a man who have 12 children each. Apart from this, 12 parents with eight children were given a consolation prize of Rs 5000 each and a citation.

In conversation with PTI on Tuesday, Royte expressed his concern over the infertility rate and the decreasing growth rate of Mizo population.

However, the census data shows that in 2011, the state's population was 10.97 lakh which is an increase of 23.48 percent if compared to previous census in 200. Mizoram's population grew in 1971-81 when decades of growth reached their peak. 48.55 per cent of the population has touched about 5 lakh people.

It is worth noting that in states like Assam and Uttar Pradesh, the two-child policy is applicable to curb the growing population.

'' Per square kilometer there is 52 person and in a bid to achieve the national average it should be at least 94 person per square kilometer. In Mizoram population there are 87 percent of Mizo tribes,'' he added.

While extending support to the campaign for population growth launched by churches and the Young Mizo Association (YMA), the Minister said that uniform norm for the whole nation is harmful for some areas and communities.

''In a state like Mizoram, the two-child policy can't be followed as there is only 52 people per square kilometer compared to 600 people in other states,'' PTI quoted him as saying.

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