“We need to arrest the rate of decline in fertility. Sikkim’s fertility rate has been one of the lowest in the country in recent years at one child per woman. Sikkim CM Prem Singh Tamang said people should be encouraged to have children.
The ‘Sikkim Kranthikari Morcha’ government has announced on November 14, 2021 that as part of measures to increase the fertility rate, maternity leave for government women employees will be increased to one year. Speaking at a recent meeting, Chief Minister Prem Singh announced that if female employees give birth, the government will also appoint a nanny at home to look after the well-being of the children for a year. For this, the state government will recruit women aged 40 years and above. He explained that the government will pay them 10,000 rupees per month and the employees do not need to pay any money.
CM Prem Singh said that women employees will be given one increment for two children and two increments if they give birth to more than two children. Common people also announced that they will give financial assistance on behalf of the Department of Health, Women and Child Welfare rather than more children.
The Sikkim CM said that the government has set up IVF centers for those suffering from childlessness. A couple who has a child through IVF will get Rs. 3 lakh financial assistance has been announced. He added that so far 38 women across the state have received children through IVF.
The current population of Sikkim is less than 7 lakh. 80 percent of them are locals. In this context, the Sikkim government has taken steps to increase the population.
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