Chhattisgarh govt announces cash for delaying childbirth

In a bid to stabilise population growth, the Chhattisgarh government is also set to offer cash to couples who delay having their first child for at least two years after their marriage. While the government has proposed to pay Rs 10,000 for a boy and Rs 12,000 for a girl born after two years of marriage, it has laid a pre-condition that the age of the mother should be over 19 years. According to the state health and family welfare department, ‘If the difference between two children would be three years and the couple adopts a family planning method within a year of the birth of the second child, the couple will be eligible for Rs 5,000 additional incentive for baby boy and Rs 7,000 for baby girl in the form of National Saving Certificate,’ officials said.