Surat: Seeking to address what it describes as a declining population within the community, the Kutch Kadva Patidar Samaj (KKPS) has announced a scheme offering Rs 50,000 as fixed deposit to parents from the community who have a third child.
Community Leaders Address Population Concerns in South Gujarat
At a recent zonal meeting in South Gujarat, community leaders raised alarms about a trend among young couples opting for either a single child or forgoing parenthood altogether. This initiative aims to counter what leaders perceive as a population imbalance across various demographics, including caste, religion, and age.
Under the new scheme, parents who have a third child will be publicly recognized and celebrated. Zaverilal Ramani, the vice-president of the South Gujarat zone of KKPS, stated, “The idea was discussed after we noticed that youth from the community are not having children or have only one child. Through the FD, we are encouraging them to have more children.” This initiative is seen as a way to promote larger family sizes among younger community members, reflecting the leaders’ concerns about demographic sustainability.
The KKPS population in South Gujarat is around 17,000 and has been declining, according to community leaders. President of the Surat Parsi Panchayat, around 39 couples across the country are currently benefiting from the scheme, which provides Rs 5,000 a month until the child turns 25, according to Dr Homi Doodhwala.
They said concerns over the community’s age profile and declining numbers prompted the initiative. Ramesh Parasiya, vice-president of Akhil Bhartiya KKPS, said the community already has several welfare schemes aimed at providing financial support to members at different stages of life. We already have support systems for our community members, and through this new scheme we want to encourage our youth to plan for more children,” Parasiya said.
These include ‘Dikri Janma Vadhamna’, under which families are encouraged and supported following the birth of a girl child, as well as assistance for families with no earning members. “The primary idea is to address the declining population. A similar population-support initiative is run by the Parsi community, which provides financial assistance to married couples opting for a third child.