Rampur Municipality in Palpa, a hill district of Lumbini Province, has introduced a new policy to provide monthly allowances to families with three or more children, aiming to counter the declining birth rate in rural settlements.

Starting from the upcoming fiscal year of 2025-26, the municipality will offer a monthly allowance of Rs 500 for each child born as the third or beyond in a family.

Mayor Raman Bahadur Thapa said that the decision was made after observing a steady decline in the local birth rate and increased migration from villages with only one or two children. “Families giving birth to a third child or more will receive a monthly allowance for five years. This is an effort to stabilise the population and encourage families to remain in the area,” he explained.

The allowance will be deposited into a child savings account until the child reaches five years of age. A regulatory framework for implementing the scheme has already been prepared, and the programme will begin from the first day of the new fiscal year in mid-July.

The scheme was announced during the municipality’s 17th annual municipal assembly, where Deputy Mayor Bal Kumari Thapa presented a total budget of Rs821.8 million for the upcoming year. Of this, Rs700,000 has been allocated specifically for the child allowance programme.

Deputy Mayor Thapa highlighted the demographic challenges facing the municipality. “Population growth has slowed down, educated youth are migrating, and long-term labour, economic stability and social balance are at risk. This initiative is an effort to support population growth in a structured and responsible manner,” she said.

Rampur Municipality had previously introduced educational support for girls born after July, 2019, offering free education up to the bachelor's level in local community schools and campuses.

The newly announced budget includes allocations from federal and provincial equalisation grants, conditional funds and internal sources. The municipality has allocated Rs60 million for each of its 10 wards and prioritised agriculture, tourism, infrastructure and employment generation in its spending. Out of the total budget, Rs605 million has been allocated for recurrent expenditures and Rs 216.8 million for capital expenditures.

According to Kapil Bahadur Khadka, spokesperson of the municipality, the assembly also endorsed policies, appropriation bills and financial regulations following detailed discussions.

During the municipal assembly, Rampur Municipality honoured 11 individuals and organisations for their exemplary contributions. Journalists Durgesh Mall, Sita Dotel and Rama Aryal Bhandari were honoured along with ward secretaries Taranath Pokharel (Wards 1 and 2); health workers Rita Khandaluk and Sarmila Bhandari; driver Dan Bahadur Rana; top taxpayer Madhu Sudan Pangeni of Rampur branch of World Link, Sangam Tole Development Organisation (Ward 4); Jyotipunj Youth Club’s chairman Sudip Gautam and differently-abled citizen Bishnu Pangeni.

The mayor, deputy mayor and Chief Administrative Officer Suryadarshan Pandit presented the honourees with certificates, cash prizes and tokens of appreciation.