Thursday, August 05, 2004

One-Child Policy

China's reverse baby bonus

Shifting from its policy of punishment, China rewards rural couples for having kept their families small. China is to dole out the carrot in the form of cash rewards to encourage rural families to stop at one child or at most two. The pilot project marks a radical shift in a draconian family planning policy that has so far emphasised punitive measures.

At a ceremony on Sunday, 67-year-old Zhao Shuqi and his wife were among several couples in the city of Qiqihar in Heilongjiang province who received a certificate of honour and a passbook for having observed the national family planning policy. In all, 5,084 rural residents of this city will receive 600 yuan ($126) annually for the rest of their lives.

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