Jan 05, Kathmandu - Kaligandaki Rural Municipality has implemented a policy to provide a monthly child-rearing allowance of Rs 4,000 to parents who have more than two children with the aim of controlling the declining birth rate and encouraging population growth. This program, which was introduced by the local level to target population growth, is considered rare in the country. According to the provision decided through the policy and program of the fiscal year 2082/83, eligible parents will receive a monthly allowance until the child reaches the age of two, for a maximum of two years.

The rural municipality has stated that the necessary procedures have been prepared for this and the program has been formally implemented from now on. According to rural municipality chairman Khim Bahadur Thapa, a special policy had to be adopted to increase the population after the birth rate in the rural municipality has been continuously declining in recent times. “We had adopted a policy to increase the population in the policy and program of the fiscal year 2082/83 to increase the declining population,” he said. “Accordingly, it has been decided to provide four thousand rupees per month to parents who have more than two children for the upbringing of the child until the child is two years old.” According to chairman Thapa, although the policy has been passed, the program could not be started due to the lack of clear criteria and procedures required for implementation.

“It was said that a separate procedure would be prepared, now that procedure has been prepared. Now the program has been implemented,” he clarified. According to local people's representatives, the birth rate in rural areas is declining sharply due to foreign employment, urbanization, rising living costs, and the trend of keeping families small. There are growing concerns that this will affect the labor force, social structure, and local development in the long term.

According to the procedure, to receive the allowance, the parents must be permanent residents of the rural municipality, and the child's birth registration must be mandatory. It is stated that the amount will be provided through the banking system to distribute the allowance transparently. According to population experts, this decision by Kaligandaki rural municipality is a sign of growing concern about the demographic crisis at the local level. However, a debate has begun on whether cash incentives alone will increase the birth rate.

Experts say that such a policy may not be effective in the long term unless infrastructure related to health services, access to education, employment and childcare is strengthened. However, the rural municipality is confident that this program will provide immediate financial relief to parents and send a positive message towards population growth. The rural municipality says that the effectiveness of the program will be evaluated and modified as needed.