Russia's Karelia region has a new policy offering incentives in the form of financial grants to young mothers to counter the falling birth rate. Starting January 1, 2025, a healthy baby born to a female student less than 25 years of age will earn her 100,000 rubles, which is about ₹81,000.
She should be a full-time student at any local university or college, below 25 years of age, and a resident of Karelia. The initiative excludes mothers of stillborn babies, but its stance on other situations, such as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or births of children with disabilities, remains unclear.
The policy does not outline additional support for mothers facing such challenges or address postpartum care and child-rearing expenses. These acts show that regions are doing to combat the Russians' low reproduction rate, mostly due to immigration, low childbirth rates, and economic conditions in the country.
Meanwhile, some commentators have argued about the small scales of the given program and non-inclusive of the entire supportive package for moms and children involved. While the financial aid does provide some form of relief for young mothers, questions about its inclusivity and long-term effectiveness in dealing with demographic issues remain.
Karelia's policy underlines the complexities of promoting population growth under difficult socio-economic conditions.
