“Every person has some personal issues. There are also national issues. But perhaps, the most fundamental issue today is demographic security. The birthrate has recently decreased and this causes great concern. It was not for nothing that the head of state reiterated, on several occasions, the maxim that there is no future without children,” Marianna Shchetkina said.
She noted that all must contribute to the effort. “We need to do our best and look for new ways to increase the birthrate. First of all, we need to appreciate the things we have. Secondly, we need to look for ways to improve the current state of affairs. First of all, we expect such proposals from families themselves,” Marianna Shchetkina said. “Opinion polls and youth surveys show that every family would like to have at least two children. The statistics, however, shows, that the share of single-child families still prevails,” she added.
“The president gave an instruction to revise the system. I think the government will spearhead this effort. History shows that new incentives successfully work for two or three years. Then people get used to them and there is a need to make new changes,” she said.
According to Marianna Shchetkina, the average age at first birth has already approached 30: “Maybe it is worth thinking about measures to support young, student families with children. This can be done through a system of scholarships, allocation of places in dormitories.”
The vice speaker asked the public to contribute their views and send their proposals to the Belarusian Union of Women, which she chairs. “We will definitely convey this information to all stakeholders and discuss it,” said Marianna Shchetkina.
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