Here is the rewritten article:
Almost a dozen regions in Russia are set to offer a cash payment to young women who give birth, Russian outlets are reporting, but there’s a pretty big catch.
According to the Moscow Times, monetary childbirth incentives will be offered in at least 11 Russian regions and will go into effect on January 1, 2025. If a young woman successfully carries the child to term, they will be paid 100,000 rubles, or approximately C$1,300.
The bonuses, which were first announced in a handful of regions in the summer, come with strict criteria. While it varies by region, all require the mothers-to-be to be full-time students at a local college or university. Additionally, they must be under the age of 25 when they give birth. The eligibility is also nullified if the mother fails to carry the child to term, meaning a stillborn baby would disqualify the woman from receiving payment.
The government has proposed using public funds to pay for newlywed wedding night stays at hotels, in the hopes they conceive, as well as encouraging women to use their breaks at work to have sex with the intention to get pregnant. A regional health minister, Yevgeny Shestopalov, said on Russian TV in September that women should “engage in procreation on breaks.” He added, “Being very busy at work is not a valid reason but a lame excuse. You can engage in procreation during breaks, because life flies by too quickly.”
The country’s health authority also announced expansion to fertility testing, with some women in Moscow reporting having received unsolicited referrals to testing clinics. Russia isn’t the only country grappling with low birth rates. According to Statistics Canada report released in September, the Canadian fertility rate in 2023 was 1.26 children per woman, which is the lowest recorded level since the agency began collecting data.
In recent months, Russian lawmakers have made sweeping and panicked changes to health policy, as well as offering new cash incentives, in an attempt to course correct on low birth rates. President Vladimir Putin has said that three-child families should be the norm in Russia in order to secure the future of the country.
The ban on child-free propaganda also includes any content deemed to promote “non-traditional lifestyles” such as same-sex relationships or gender fluidity, as well as dissenting accounts of the conflict in Ukraine. Violators can face large fines.
Conclusion:
The Russian government’s efforts to boost the birth rate have sparked controversy, with some critics arguing that the measures are invasive and stigmatizing. However, the government is determined to take action to address the country’s low birth rate and ensure the future of the nation.
FAQs:
* What is the cash payment offered to young women?
The cash payment is 100,000 rubles, or approximately C$1,300, for women who successfully carry their child to term.
* What are the criteria for eligibility?
The criteria include being a full-time student at a local college or university, being under the age of 25 when giving birth, and not having a stillborn baby.
* What are the government’s other measures to boost the birth rate?
The government has proposed using public funds to pay for newlywed wedding night stays at hotels and encouraging women to use their breaks at work to have sex with the intention to get pregnant.
About The Author
