China’s Hohhot has introduced childcare subsidies to boost declining birth rates, offering financial support for families and free daily milk for new mothers. The measures align with a broader governmental effort, implemented across multiple provinces, to address population decline resulting from past policies and economic pressures. Hohhot provides substantial one-time payments and annual subsidies to families.
In an effort to address declining birth rates, Hohhot, the capital of Inner Mongolia, has launched significant childcare subsidies and a unique initiative offering daily free milk for new mothers. More than 20 provinces in China are implementing similar subsidies aimed at encouraging young couples to marry and have children. This response comes as China experiences its third consecutive year of population decline and a record drop in marriages.
The sharp decline in births is closely linked to historical policies such as the one-child policy (1980-2015), combined with rapid urbanization and rising costs associated with child-rearing. Since 2021, families have been permitted to have up to three children in an attempt to reverse this trend. During a recent parliamentary session, Premier Li Qiang emphasized the importance of childcare subsidies and free preschool education to promote higher birth rates.
Under Hohhot’s new policy, families are entitled to a one-time payment of 10,000 yuan (approximately $1,383) for their first child, with an annual subsidy of 10,000 yuan thereafter for a second child until age five. Additionally, families with a third child will receive an annual subsidy of 10,000 yuan until the child turns ten, which is substantial considering local income levels.
The city has also initiated the “One Cup of Milk Fertility Care Action for Mothers”, providing new mothers with a free cup of milk each day after March 1. Additionally, mothers will receive a 3,000 yuan electronic voucher, redeemable at local dairy companies Yili and China Mengniu Dairy. This multifaceted approach aims to tackle the critical demographic challenges affecting China.
Hohhot’s childcare subsidies and innovative support measures, like free daily milk for new mothers, represent a strategic effort to combat declining birth rates in China. With the government’s recognition of the urgency surrounding demographic challenges, these initiatives aim to encourage marriage and parenthood amidst historical constraints. This proactive approach may influence wider provincial policies and set a precedent for improving population dynamics in the country.
Original Source: www.ndtv.com
