Chandigarh, May 18: BJP leader and former IAS officer Jagmohan Raju has expressed his concerns about the declining Sikh population in a letter to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. He suggested that the state government should provide financial incentives of ₹30,000 for the third child and ₹40,000 for the fourth child to encourage population growth among the Sikh community.
In his letter, Raju highlighted that the Sikh community is a constitutionally recognized minority in India. According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data, Sikhs have the lowest fertility rate among major communities in the country, leading to a continuous decline in their population.
He pointed out that the proportion of Sikhs in Punjab’s population was 62.95% in 1991, which fell to 57.69% in the 2011 census, with indications that this trend is ongoing. This demographic decline poses a serious concern for the social and cultural future of the Sikh community in Punjab.
Raju emphasized that to counter this decline, the Punjab government should seriously consider implementing financial support similar to the recent model announced by the Andhra Pradesh government, which offers ₹30,000 for the birth of a third child and ₹40,000 for a fourth child. This initiative aims to assist young families and curb the decrease in the Sikh population.
He stated, “Such a step would help maintain the social, cultural, and demographic strength of the patriotic Sikh community, which has made significant contributions to India’s freedom, defense, agriculture, and development.”
Raju expressed hope that the government would take this crucial matter seriously. In Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has announced incentives to improve declining birth rates and maintain demographic balance.
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