India and China are the most populated countries in the world. Recently India surpassed China to become the most populous country. 

China had a one-child policy which was imposed between 1980 and 2015. 

This was a very strictly enforced policy. Contraception methods like IUD (Copper T) in females and vasectomies in males were made compulsory after they have their first child. The government used to force abortions in case of a second child. 

The females had to go under a regular physical checkup to make sure the IUD is still there. 

In some provisions, the second child was not even given Chinese citizenship. The couples who had a second child would have to pay heavy fines to the government. 

However there were only 22 exceptional categories like a first disabled child, a couple that has migrated  etc that allowed the couples to have a second child.

Due to these policies, the country saw a major decline in its population. 

In 2021, China raised the limit of children to three, but even during stay-at-home COVID time, couples were not very keen to have babies. 

Now this year China has come up with a new idea of increasing the population. 

Chinese colleges are giving their students a break "to fall in love". 

Their only homework for the break is writing diaries, recording personal growth, and filming videos of their travels. 

In an attempt to save its falling birth rate, nine colleges in China have come up with a unique plan and are giving their students a week to ‘fall in love’ and have babies.

Nine vocational colleges, run by the Fan Mei Education Group, had sent out a notice. The students were given a week holiday from April 1 to 7 to find love and immerse themselves in the emotion. 

It is normal for educational institutions to give a week off during Spring. But, it is the first time that a special emphasis was given in the holiday notice. This year’s theme is “enjoy the blossoms, go fall in love." It focuses on personal growth and romance.

The Chinese Government has come up with more recommendations to boost birth rates. Some of those are - 

1. The requirement for women to be legally married to register their children has been removed. 

2. To promote marriage, some companies are offering 30 days of “marriage leave." 

3. Some areas have launched campaigns asking city women to date rural older men. 

4. Maternity leave is paid by the government rather than the employer. 

5. Expanding free public education.

6. Improving access to fertility treatments.

7. Chinese cities are giving  parents INR 60,000 for having a second child and about INR 2 lakh to have a third child.

Isn’t this a very sad irony for the country! Can you imagine what people must have gone through during the one-child policy? Now that the country is promoting childbirth, what must they be feeling right now?

What do you think of China's new initiative? Can this encourage people to find love and fall in love? 

Will China eventually increase its population again? Let us know in the comments below!

Tags

• China colleges
• one week off
• chinese population

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