While population outburst is a problem many states in India face, some do have the opposite issue. This may be because of many reasons- climate, terrain, high mortality rate etc.
A church in Mizoram, which is a predominantly Christian state has announced cash incentives for couples. People who have four children get Rs. 4,000 and Rs. 5,000 for five kids and so on.
According to the Indian Express, The Lunglei Bazar Veng Baptist Church has also said that there is no upper limit to the cash benefits. The policy is that more the babies are born the higher the reward.
According to the consensus of 2011, the population density of Mizoram is 52 per square kilometer, which is the second lowest in the country after Arunachal Pradesh.
Moreover, the total population growth in the previous decade was 29.18% while in the current decade has dropped to 23.48%
This low birth rate among the dominant Mizo tribes has been the cause of concern. Lalramleina Pachuau, senior executive member of the Mizoram Synod of Presbyterian Church of India also said,
“We encourage more children.”
He also said that while the population of Mizos is already less, the birth rate is further decreasing. However, Pachuau clarified that the Presbyterian Church will not be giving any cash benefits.
Pachuau also said that the rate of stillbirth has been on the rise in a few areas. This is especially true in south Mizoram. Talking about the grave problem, he said,
“We do not know the exact reasons but the health department is investigating.”
The Church plays an extremely significant role in the lives of the people there. 87% of Mizos are Christian and out of that, they are predominantly Presbyterian. The churches have many a time asked couples to reproduce more.
Sources also claim that birthrate in the state’s urban areas where the dominant Mizo tribe settles is relatively low. Whereas, in the rural areas where ethnic minorities like Chakmas and Brus reside it is higher.
Even the former Mizoram CM, Zoramthanga had extended maternity benefits for the birth of up to four children. He had also spoken about the state’s population especially that of the Mizos was a topic of concern.
It is yet to be seen though if the monetary aid provided by the churches is incentive enough to have an impact on the state’s decreasing population.