Aizawl, January 07, 2008 (PTI): Virtually sailing against the tide, Mizoram government is planning to encourage more population in the distant north eastern state.
At a time when the Centre is advocating family planning to check the population boom, the Mizo National Front (MNF) Government is contemplating a slew of measures to encourage birth of more children.
According to Chief Minister Zoramthanga, the state government is planning to give maternity benefits up to four children. At other places in the country, only two maternity benefits are allowed.
Zoramthanga is concerned over the small population in the state which joined the national mainstream not too long ago.
In a chat with senior journalists during the two-day editors’ conference on infrastructure issues related to the North East, which concluded recently, he said that the state was trying its best to get out of the problem.
The population of Mizoram is just 8,91,958 and it is one reason why the mountainous state feels itself isolated from the rest of the country, explained the chief minister.
Defending his position, he said that unless such measures were taken, the population of the state would go down. “That is why we are in favour of more population in the state,” he said, pointing out that the rate of birth rate was low.
He said the church was also playing a great role in this regard. “The church is helping us to a great extent.”
Source: The Hindu
