How Will Russia Use Its 'Ministry Of Sex' To Curb Declining Birth Rate?

Russian President Vladimir Putin's government is reportedly considering the establishment of a 'Ministry of Sex' to tackle the country's declining birth rate. This comes as the current fertility rate in Russia stands at approximately 1.5 children per woman, far below the 2.1 needed for population stability, a September 2024 report in Metro said. The population crisis was exacerbated by the ongoing conflict with Ukraine, amid which several Russians, mostly young, have fled the country. 

Ministry Of Sex

Nina Ostanina, chairperson of the Russian parliament's committee on Family Protection, Paternity, Maternity and Childhood, is looking into a plea demanding such a ministry, according to reports. The administration is mulling numerous ideas to meet Putin's call to halt the demographic decline.

According to Putin's government, one of the proposed plans is to pay an incentive to stay-at-home mothers. This can be included in their pension calculations. Additionally, the public funding of up to 26,300 roubles (₹23,122) for wedding nights in hotels is also said to be under consideration. 

There are also some 'peculiar' plans to turn off the internet and even lights between 10 PM and 2 AM to encourage couples to get involved in intimate activities. Another suggestion is that the government start paying people for their first dates -- up to 5,000 roubles (around ₹4,395).

As per local media, the proposal for the 'Ministry of Sex' to take charge of initiatives to boost the birth rate was raised in a plea organised by the GlavPR agency. Moscow authorities have reportedly also asked female public sector workers to fill out intimate questionnaires about sex and menstruation.

Plans To Boost Birth Rate

In September, the government reportedly advised people to have sex at work during breaks. Health Minister Dr Yevgeny Shestopalov stated that work should not have to be an obstacle for people to expand their families. "Being very busy at work is not a valid reason, but a lame excuse," he reportedly said.

When asked about the people who work long hours, Shestopalov urged them to use their lunch and coffee breaks to procreate. "Make babies during break times. You can engage in procreation during breaks because life flies by too quickly," he told Metro. 

This is one among the several eyebrow-raising measures proposed by Russia to improve the fertility rate. At the beginning of 2024, the country witnessed the lowest-ever birth rate in 25 years. In June, births in Russia dropped below 1 lakh for the first time.

"This is catastrophic for the future of the nation," The Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in July, according to Agence France-Presse. "The birth rate is now at a terribly low level — 1.4 births. This is comparable to European countries, Japan, and so on."

In the Chelyabinsk region, women under the age of 24 are offered a payment of 102 thousand Rubles (₹9.40 lakh) upon the birth of their first child. In Moscow, the government urged women between 18-40 years old to undergo free fertility screenings.

Russia has also controlled abortion rights, with public figures and religious leaders advocating that a woman's primary responsibility is to bear children and make large families a norm. Additionally, fees for divorce have also been increased, according to reports.