Moscow. Russia, which is facing a continuously declining population and a huge drop in the rate of birth of children in its country, has taken a unique step. Taking a controversial step, Russia has appealed to its citizens to use work breaks to have sex to increase the country’s declining birth rate. Health Minister Dr. Yevgeny Shestopalov advised office goers to use lunch and coffee time to have intimate relations. Shestopalov’s statement came after Russia’s fertility rate fell from the previous rate of 2.1 to about 1.5 children per woman.
The problem has been worsened by the war with Ukraine, which has led to young Russians fleeing the country. Shestopalov said on Monday that busy work schedules should not prevent people from expanding their families. He suggested that breaks could be used to build intimate relationships as life is going by too fast, Metro reported. Russian President Vladimir Putin had earlier said that protecting the Russian people is our top national priority.
It is noteworthy that Russia’s birth rate has recently fallen to its lowest since 1999. This was further aggravated by an 18 percent increase in deaths, partly due to the Ukraine war. The Kremlin has implemented several measures to boost the birth rate. These include offering free fertility tests to women aged 18-40 in Moscow, proposing a plan to pressure employers to help female employees have children. In addition, access to abortion is being restricted. Divorce fees have been increased to discourage separation among couples. Politician Anna Kuznetsova has also advocated that women should start having children at the age of 19-20 to increase family size.
FIRST PUBLISHED : September 16, 2024, 21:57 IST