Russia mulls creating 'Ministry of Sex' to boost birth rate, Putin considers new government initiative

Moscow (The Uttam Hindu): A significant development is unfolding in Russia, where the government is considering a new initiative to address the country's declining birth rate. According to sources, President Vladimir Putin is contemplating the creation of a "Ministry of Sex" as part of his efforts to combat the demographic crisis, which has worsened due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Nina Ostenina, the Chairman of the Family Security Committee in the Russian Parliament, is reviewing the proposal, while Deputy Mayor Anastasia Rakova, a supporter of Putin, has stressed the importance of encouraging reproduction. Rakova has urged women to have more children, with the "Ministry of Sex" being seen as a key component of this drive to boost the country's birth rate.

One of the more controversial ideas being considered in the proposal is to turn off the internet and electricity from 10 PM to 2 AM to encourage couples to spend more time on intimate activities. Additionally, there is a suggestion that the state should compensate mothers for their domestic work, with the payment potentially contributing to their pensions. The proposal also includes financial incentives to encourage family life, such as offering up to 5,000 rubles (around £40) for first dates, and covering the cost of a wedding night hotel stay for couples, potentially up to 26,300 rubles (about £208). These measures aim to foster a more child-friendly environment in Russia.

In some regions, further incentives have been introduced, such as in Khabarovsk, where female students aged 18 to 23 can receive 90,000 rupees (about £900) for having children, while in Chelyabinsk, the amount increases to 8.5 lakh rupees (about £8,500) for the first child. In an even more unusual suggestion, Yevgeny Shestopalov, the regional health minister, proposed allowing workers to use their coffee and lunch breaks for "reproduction," joking that life passes quickly and such moments should be seized. These proposals reflect Russia's urgent efforts to reverse its population decline, though the unconventional nature of some ideas has sparked debate.