Russian students will now be rewarded for their contribution to the demographic improvement of their country. While the number of births there is historically low, notably because of the losses caused by the war in Ukraine, Russia reacts and opts for incentives. In exchange for a healthy infant, a payment of 100,000 rubles (896 euros at the current exchange rate) will be made to new student mothers.
At the same time, the Russian federal government increased maternity benefits at the beginning of the year. So from 630,400 rubles (5,669 euros) in 2024, they will be 670,000 rubles (6,025 euros) in 2025. Women who give birth to a second child will be able to receive 894,000 rubles (8,039 euros). It was 833,000 rubles (7,491 euros) in 2024.
This new law will apply, subject to several conditions, in a dozen regional governments in Russia. For example, in Karelia (government of northwest Russia, bordering Finland), women, to be eligible for the payment, must be residents of the region, full-time students and under 25 years old.
This financial incentive comes in a context where the number of births is historically low in Russia. In the first half of 2024, only 599,600 children were born there, 16,000 fewer than in the same period the previous year. This is the lowest figure in twenty-five years. “This is catastrophic for the future of the nation,” declared Dmitri Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, in July 2024.
Infants who died prematurely and were not cared for
On the other hand, the Moscow Times points out that the bonus will probably not be paid in the event that the child dies prematurely. If the infant dies shortly after birth from sudden death syndrome, the law does not specify whether it applies or not. If the mother gives…
Read more on Slate.fr
