Changshan Shows the Way to Boost Births
- Home
- News
- People
- In-depth
- ACWF
Changshan Shows the Way to Boost Births
ByZhang Zhouxiang August 31, 2023Changshan County in East China's Zhejiang Province has caught the attention of Western media outlets after the local government announced through its official WeChat account new subsidies to boost childbirths.
According to the release, anybody marrying for the first time in the county will get a one-time subsidy of 1,000 yuan ($137.45), while children born in local hospitals who have their hukou (household registration) in the county will get money until they turn 3, so long as they are not the first child of the family. The standard is 5,000 yuan a year for the second child of the family and 10,000 yuan a year for every third child of the family.
The results of this initiative are yet to be seen, but it seems this might work.
In order to boost people's willingness to have more than one child, subsidies in the form of cash are a good measure, as the cost of giving birth to and raising a child is very high in any modern society today. The family needs a bigger house to accommodate a new member, the mother needs to spend months preparing for the delivery and the couple needs to care for and nurture a young one, all of which costs money and the individuals' time.
The local government can shoulder some of the costs and inconvenience by promoting baby-care services or improving the conditions of kindergartens. But besides these services, some monetary support will greatly help young child-raising couples.
The subsidy for the second child and third child in Changshan can help parents cover part of the expenses such as hiring a wet nurse or buying clothes and other necessities. It might not be a huge sum but it shows the local government's determination to encourage more childbirths.
The local government in Changshan County has rightly identified new couples, as they are the ones who are most likely to be planning families, for the subsidies. More local governments should observe the results and consider following suit.
(Source: China Daily)
32.3KPlease understand that womenofchina.cn,a non-profit, information-communication website, cannot reach every writer before using articles and images. For copyright issues, please contact us by emailing: [email protected]. The articles published and opinions expressed on this website represent the opinions of writers and are not necessarily shared by womenofchina.cn.
Comments
Magazines
Projects
- 2023 Women Science and Technology Innovation Pioneer...
Photos
- People Enjoy Blooming Tulips in Jinan, East...
- Flowers Bloom Across China in Spring
Special Coverage
Related articles
Pennsylvania House passes bill restricting how social media companies treat minors
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s state House of Representatives on Wednesday approved legislati2024-05-09Drew Barrymore unveils new fashion collaboration with Justin Bieber's Drew House brand
Drew Barrymore has released a fashion capsule collection with Justin Bieber's brand Drew House - day2024-05-09Gas and propane stoves linked to 50,000 cases of childhood asthma, study finds
Tens of thousands of asthma cases in children have been linked to gas and propane stoves, a study su2024-05-09Kentucky Derby 2024: Eyes on early favorites Fierceness, Sierra Leone
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Twenty horses stampeding toward the first turn in a battle for position. A sc2024-05-09- NEW YORK (AP) — Vincent Trocheck couldn’t describe the feeling when he finally scored in the second2024-05-09
Senate races are roiled by campus protests over the war in Gaza as campaign rhetoric sharpens
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The student protest movement disrupting university campuses, classes and grad2024-05-09
atest comment