Japan Offering Girls to Marry Rural Area Boys: Japan’s birth rate is declining and the number of aging people is increasing. The worried government is coming up with many attractive schemes to increase the population of the country. Now the Japanese government is offering 6 lakh yen (3.52 lakh rupees) to girls for marriage. The government has brought this offer for 23 cities of Tokyo.
Actually, the fertility rate in Japan has gone down considerably. In the year 2023, the total fertility rate of Japan was 1.20. At the same time, people are shying away from getting married and people are migrating to cities. Hundreds of villages in the country are lying vacant. You must have heard the name of Akiya House. Let us tell you that about 90 lakh houses are lying vacant in Japan, these are called Akiya House.
Marry village boys
Now the Japanese government has come up with a new strategy to increase marriage and fertility rate. In this, the government is giving travel expenses and marriage expenses to eligible women. Its purpose is not only to encourage girls to get married but also to increase the population in the village. The government is giving money to the girls of 23 city councils to marry village boys.
Criticism from the opposition
The plan faced strong criticism from opposition parties, due to which it was withdrawn. Critics say that it can be considered coercive or problematic. This will have a huge impact on gender equality and women’s autonomy. It will also have an impact on their identity.
Why did Japan take such a decision
The Japanese government’s move reflects a trend where countries with declining birth rates and aging populations are adopting financial incentives to promote marriage and family life. However, such plans reflect the struggle to balance traditional values with modern social needs as governments try to bring about demographic change while fending off potential criticism and ethical concerns.
Tags: Bride groom, Japan
FIRST PUBLISHED : September 15, 2024, 13:11 IST