SIKKIM, nestled in the Himalayas and surrounded on three sides by Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet, stands out in the teeming diversity of India’s states. It has the country’s tallest peak. It is the world’s largest producer of smoky black cardamom.
Sikkim's government is taking action to counter the declining birthrate by implementing a three-pronged strategy, including financial incentives for IVF treatment, monthly allowances for couples with one child, and additional benefits for civil servants.
India will soon be history’s most populous country. But the growth is uneven, and the Himalayan state of Sikkim is offering cash incentives to encourage births.