In a move to counter the country’s demographic crisis, a Russian region has announced a financial incentive of 100,000 rubles (approximately ₹81,000) for female students under 25 who give birth to a healthy baby.
As per The Moscow Times, this scheme applies exclusively to full-time university or college students under 25 residing in Karelia.
The bonus excludes mothers of stillborn children, though it is unclear whether payment would be revoked in the case of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
The policy does not clarify the eligibility of mothers of disabled children or mention additional support for postpartum recovery.
Russia is grappling with its lowest birth rate in 25 years, with only 599,600 births recorded in the first half of 2024, a decline of 16,000 from the same period in 2023.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov previously termed the situation “catastrophic for the future of the nation”.
At least 11 other regions, including Tomsk, have launched similar programmes.
Nationally, maternity payments have been raised, with first-time mothers now eligible for 677,000 rubles (approximately $6,150), while second-time mothers can claim 894,000 rubles (approximately $8,130).
The demographic challenges, exacerbated by the ongoing Ukraine conflict and subsequent emigration, pose a critical threat.
Critics argue that these schemes fail to address the root causes of low birth rates, such as high adult mortality and economic uncertainty.
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