Schools are meant to be places where students learn and grow. But in some parts of Russia, things are changing in a surprising and worrying way. Reports from Siberia and other areas say that school and college girls are being given cash rewards by the government, not for doing well in studies, but for getting pregnant.

To increase the country’s falling birth rate, local authorities in places like Kemerovo, Karelia, Bryansk, Oryol, and Tomsk have started this new plan. Under this scheme, girls who are at least 22 weeks pregnant and have registered at a government clinic can get a one-time payment of 1,00,000 rubles (around Rs 1 lakh).

The program, confirmed by The Moscow Times and Fortune, shows how desperate Russia has become to stop its falling population. This problem has gotten worse because of war, people leaving the country, and more deaths. Russia’s population decline is now at a very serious stage. The country is seeing its lowest birth rate in over 25 years, with fewer than 1,00,000 babies born each month. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has called this situation “disastrous for the nation’s future.”

To fix this, the Russian government is offering money and other benefits to encourage people to have more children. However, giving these offers to teenagers and college girls has worried people around the world. Many fear it could pressure young girls into becoming mothers too soon, affecting their health and future.

The cash-for-pregnancy plan is just one of many such programs. Since 2007, Russia has had a scheme called the Maternity Capital Programme, which gives 5,00,000 rubles for the first child and an extra 1.5 lakh rubles for more children.

Regional governments also give extra money, from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh, depending on the number of children. Families who buy homes can get help like cheaper loans, land, and housing subsidies. Parents also receive monthly child allowances until the child turns 18, with extra help for poor families.

While the Russian government says these programs are needed to save the country’s future, critics say they might be taking advantage of poor and young girls, pushing them into early pregnancies just for money.