Egypt offers cash for families to control births
The Egyptian government intends to pay 1,000 Egyptian pounds to married women with two children or less annually as part of efforts to curb population growth.
CAIRO — In an effort to stem population growth, the Egyptian government plans to pay 1,000 Egyptian pounds (roughly $32) annually to married women who have two children or less, under a protocol that was signed this month between the Finance and Planning and Economic Development ministries.
The cash will be disbursed under an incentive program initiated by the government to reduce the fertility rate for women ages 21 to 45.
Each woman with two children or less will get the accumulated amount when she turns 45 based on her age when she joins the program. The woman, however, will lose her right to claim any amount if she gives birth to a third child.
The incentive program is part of the National Project for Development of the Egyptian Family, which aims to tackle the overpopulation by improving demographic characteristics.
