China once punished couples for having more than one child. According to his old rule of one child, some parents paid huge fines, up to 100,000 yuan ( £12 Lakh). It is almost three times their annual income. Officials even forced abortion and operations. But now China wants young people to have more children.
To support this, the government will give 3,600 yuan ( £44 000) Every year for each child up to three, retrospective from 1 January.
Also read | Adult pacifiers are popular to alleviate anxiety and give a “sense of safety”
Beijing plans to spend 90 billion yuans (more than £1 lakh crore) to help 20 million families this year. Previously, such support provided only local governments. This is the first time that the central government gives a national subsidy.
However, experts say that this may not increase the birth rate. According to CNN, similar plans failed in Japan and South Korea.
Many young people in China feel stressed because of long working hours, expensive housing and uncertain jobs. A small post will not solve these major problems. While some parents welcome money, others remain sure they have children.
Also read | The woman says she supported her husband without work; Here’s the reason
“The cost of raising a child is huge and 3,600 yuans per year are just a decline in bucket,” said Zane Li CNN.
When Zane was 9, her parents had to pay a heel amount for the second child. Zane, now 25, says he does not plan to have a child.
“(Having children) would only bring more problems. I’m not a capitalist or anything, and my child would probably not have a very good life,” Zane added.
Also read | She called it “medicine”: What did the mother do to her children
On Chinese social media, young people share old income showing fines that their parents paid for having more than one child during one child’s politics. Many of them grew up that life would improve with hard work and education. But now hope is disappearing, CNN reported.
The property is too expensive and good work often only goes to those who have strong family contacts. Although China has ended the rule of one child and now allows up to three children, the birth rate continues to decrease. The population decreases for three years.
A decline in the population in China
According to the Peterson Institute for the International Economy, China recorded 9 births and 11.1 million deaths in 2023. The Institute said that the decline in the population is “approaching irreversible”.
Increasing one child in China costs an average of 538,000 yuan ( £65 lakh), which is more than six times the country’s average income. In cities like Shanghai and Beijing, it costs much more, crossing £1 crore.
Because of such high costs, many pairs decide to have children. The younger generation is now more afraid than hope for their future, he added.
(Tagstotranslate) India population
