Newborns at a hospital in Agartala, the capital of Tripura state. Photo: EPA
According to the Sample Registration System Report, India's largest demographic survey, the total fertility rate of the world's most populous nation is now just 1.9 children per woman, lower than the 2.1 needed to maintain a stable population size. In the early 2000s, this rate was as high as 3.3 children per woman.
Experts believe that increased access to education and better contraceptive methods are the main factors contributing to India's declining birth rate.
Jyotsna Mirlay, an obstetrician in Bengaluru (Karnataka state), told Al Jazeera that thanks to higher levels of education, young Indian women today are less bound by traditional notions of marriage and children than their mothers and grandmothers. They are also turning away from the idea that women will “feel secure in life if they get married and have children.”
“It is these kinds of notions that force Indian women to put their careers on hold and have children. However, that is no longer relevant for women in their 30s and 40s – who are more empowered by education and financial freedom, and therefore have the right to choose whether or not to have children,” said Mirlay. She revealed that many couples seeking health counseling tend to decide to have children in line with their career goals.
Rising living costs are also a significant factor driving many Indians to choose to have fewer children. According to India's Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, consumer price inflation in April rose for the sixth consecutive month, reaching 3.48%.
The International Monetary Fund estimates that India's per capita income in 2025 will be $2,878, or less than $240 per month, while monthly expenses will rise to around $290.
The high cost of living is a major concern that led Roopa (36), a team leader at a large electronics company, to decide against having children. “Most of us want to give our children a good life, but with the cost of living rising, many of us want to be financially stable and achieve our career goals before starting a family,” Roopa told Al Jazeera.
Shweta Luthra (41), a lawyer in Bengaluru, says that many young Indians are less interested in getting married or having children, and instead focus on improving their quality of life. “Many people are spending most of their salaries on vacations or eating out every weekend. The rest they use to pay for rent and other bills,” Luthra said.
Against this backdrop, many states are trying to encourage people to have more children. For example, Andhra Pradesh, where the birth rate is only 1.4 children per woman, announced last month a subsidy of 30,000 rupees for couples having a third child and 40,000 rupees for a fourth. Meanwhile, states like Goa, Karnataka, and Telangana are establishing in-vitro fertilization centers to support couples wishing to become parents.
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Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/nguoi-tre-an-do-ngay-cang-sinh-it-con-a207211.html
