AIZAWL: Mizoram sports minister Robert Romawia Royte, also known as “Triple R” distributed Rs 2.5 lakh to 17 women who delivered more children at a function held within his Aizawl East-II constituency on Tuesday.
Royte said the incentives to mothers to have more children was given in accordance with “more children drive” launched by different church denominations and the central committee of the Young Mizo Association (YMA).
Ngurauvi of Tuithiang locality, who bore 15 children (8 daughters and 7 sons) bagged the highest award and was presented with a citation along with Rs 1 lakh in cash, followed by Lianthangi of Chhinga Veng locality, mother of 13, who was given a citation and Rs 30,000 in cash.
Two women and one man, who have 12 children each, were awarded the third prize and a cash incentive of Rs 20,000 each while 12 women, with 8 children each, were each given consolation prizes of Rs 5,000 and citations.
The function was presided over by Rev. P.B. Mankima of the Presbyterian Church and attended by leaders of YMA, including president of the central committee of the YMA, Vanlalruata.
The church denominations, including the Presbyterian Church and the Baptist Church, have been campaigning to create awareness among the people of the importance of having more children for the survival of the Mizos.
The YMA also made efforts to educate young couples across the state to bear more children saying increasing the population is the need of the hour for survival of the Mizos.
The churches and some of the civil societies were disturbed by the low population growth rate among the Mizos while the growth rate of the Chakma community, residing in the south western parts of the state adjoining Bangladesh, is extremely high.
Many Mizo people, including the YMA and student organisations, alleged that the high growth rate among the Chakmas, branded foreigners, was always high due to heavy influx of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. Mizoram’s population density of 52 persons per sq. km was much below the national average of 382, they said, adding, “The infertility rate and the declining growth rate of the Mizo population has been a serious concern for many years.”
