I don’t know about Europe or America but in most parts of Asia, the first thing that couples crave for after getting married is a child. That is perhaps why, more than half of the world population live in Asian countries. In India, population explosion is the number one economic problem. India has more than one billion population and there is no sign of slowing down. In many parts of India, population growth has emerged as a big problem. I am happy to see that at least in one place, local government is trying to fight back.
India is a democratic country and it is impossible to implement one child or two children policy like China did. The best way to motivate people to have fewer children is to offer some kind of facility. The best incentive is cash.
IHT reported:
The "Honeymoon Package" is being introduced in the Satara district of western India's Maharashtra state, local health officer V.H. Mohite said Friday.
Authorities are trying to coax couples, especially in poor families, to help cut the district's population growth rate, Mohite said.
A couple will get 5,000 rupees (US$121; €101) if they decide to have their first child after two years of marriage. If they hold off for another year, they will get 7,500 rupees (US$182; €152), he said.
This is a smart strategy and local governments in other parts of India should try to follow it too. However, I just wish that this scheme does not suffer from corruption. Many poor couples will like to take advantage from this scheme and get the money after two years.
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