Japan government will give additional Rs 48,000 to people to improve birth rate

Japan has been facing a declining birth rate for some time now. The country’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare is hoping that the promise of some more money will help people add a child to their families. japan today,

Currently, a one-time childbirth and childcare grant of 420,000 yen (Rs 2,52,338) is given to new parents after a child is born. Katsunobu Kato, the minister of health, labor and welfare, wants to raise that figure to 500,000 yen (Rs 3,00,402). According to Japan Today, he spoke with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida last week to discuss the plan, which is likely to be accepted and take effect for the 2023 fiscal year.

Although an increase in grant money of this magnitude is unlikely to deter anyone from wanting children, it may not be a very strong incentive either. According to the outlet, the child’s delivery fee is covered out of the person’s pocket, even though the grant is known as the ‘Childbirth and Childcare Lump-sum Grant’ and is supported by Japan’s public medical insurance system. Delivery cost in the country is approximately 473,000 yen. On average, parents will be left with 30,000 yen when they return home from the hospital, even if the grant is increased.

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According to the outlet, the increase of 80,000 yen would be the largest increase ever for the Childbirth and Childcare Lump-sum Grant and the first since 2009.

According to government data released in 2021, the lowest number of children were born in Japan in more than a century. The figure raised fears about the long-term effects of the population decline, which has long been a source of concern in the country’s policy circles and political discourse. According to Reuters, the country recorded 8,11,604 births and 14,39,809 deaths last year, resulting in a population decline of 6,28,205 – the biggest natural decline since the data became available.

An official from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare told GG Press that the decline in the fertility rate last year is due to a decrease in the number of women of childbearing age as well as a decrease in the fertility rate of women in their 20s.