Dollars for Baby Bumps: Pregnancy Incentives in Russian Schools
Schoolgirls in a Russian region receive incentives or rewards for becoming pregnant.
In the face of Russia's declining population and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, local authorities have resorted to controversial measures to boost the birth rate. One such region, Oryol, has started offering monetary rewards to students who become pregnant.
According to an independent media outlet, "Meduza," a decree signed by Governor Andrei Klychkov dictates that students will receive a state allowance of 100,000 rubles (around 1050 euros) upon registering a pregnancy. Previously, this incentive applied to women of working age. With this decree, even students at general and vocational schools will be eligible for the allowance, with no age limit specified.
It's worth noting that approximately half of Russia's more than 80 regions have introduced similar pregnancy allowances for students. This move is part of a broader effort by the Russian government to tackle the country's demographic crisis, which has seen a dwindling population despite efforts from the Kremlin and calls from top officials for women to have children early.
For instance, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko advocated for earlier childbirth, stating, "A woman must understand: the earlier she gives birth, the better." Last fall, the Russian parliament passed a law banning the promotion of childlessness in public forums, punishable offenses being those that aim to discourage or promote voluntary childlessness.
While the specific age range of the students may vary, children in Russia typically begin school around six or seven years old and attend for eleven years. Whether these incentives encourage responsible decision-making among students remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the Russian government is willing to roll out unique measures to counteract the country's demographic challenge.
Insights
- The Russian government is taking bold and unconventional steps to address its declining population, including offering financial incentives for students to start families.
- The effectiveness of these measures in improving the country's demographic situation and fostering responsible decision-making is yet to be fully understood.
- The need for continued long-term studies on the impact of such policies on various aspects of society remains significant.
- The Community policy in Oryol, Russia, now includes an employment policy that offers a financial incentive to students who become pregnant, as per the decree signed by Governor Andrei Klychkov – a move that has extended the earlier scheme, initially for working-age women, to students across all general and vocational schools, with no age limit.
- Remarkably, not only is Oryol adopting this progressive employment policy, but approximately half of more than 80 regions in Russia have implemented similar pregnancy allowances for students as part of the Russian government's ambitious efforts to tackle its demographic crisis and boost the birth rate.
- In a broader scope, the Russian government is taking proactive steps to discourage childlessness, as evidenced by the recent law passed by the Russian parliament, which prohibits the promotion of childlessness in public forums, aimed at addressing the concerns raised by Top officials regarding the dwindling population despite Kremlin's efforts.
