In our culture, having a child is the next natural step following marriage. Families start pressuring newlyweds to have kids and “take the family line forward” within the first year of their marriage. However, the joys of parenthood do not last long for many people. They are kept occupied for the first two years with regular pediatrician visits, check-ups, follow-ups, immunizations, and so on. Then comes the stress of their children’s education, beginning with preschool and kindergarten and progressing to college. As a result of which, many couples choose not to have children. Continue reading to learn more on the subject.
The Financial Aspects Of Having A Child
The cost of having and raising a kid is too expensive for middle-class households in metropolitan India. Many families do not consider the financial implications of having a kid. They believe that taking money so seriously when it comes to children is inconsiderate. Families, on the other hand, must be more practical and make informed judgments.
A Research Considering The Financials
Mint recently published a well-researched article outlining the cost of raising a child in metropolitan India, which made people reconsider having kids. Schooling, extracurricular activities, medical bills, and so on are prohibitively expensive in cities such as Mumbai, Bangalore, and Delhi.
Mumbai
A Mumbai-based couple with an 8-year-old son spends Rs 1.72 lakh per year on school fees, Rs 2000 per month on extracurricular activities, Rs 10,000-12,000 on medical bills, and Rs 20,000-24,000 on clothing. In addition to these costs, they must save for their child’s future.
Bangalore
In another situation, a couple in Bangalore has two kids, one who is five and a half years old and the other who is eight months old. Annually, Rs 80,000 is spent on school fees, but Rs 1.8 lakh is spent on the automobile and petrol. Summer vacation camp costs between Rs 8,000 and Rs 10,000, and Rs 40,000 is deducted from the newborn’s annual medical bills.
Delhi:
The annual school fee in Delhi is Rs 1.56 lakh, while it is Rs 1.5 lakh in Indore.
Even before all of this, a C-section costs Rs 1 lakh when the child is going to be delivered. It will cost around Rs 3.7 lakh in ten years. Vaccines for the first 18 months range in price from Rs 60,000 to Rs 80,000.
What is the cost over time, of having a kid? Roughly speaking, about 1 crore over 20 years. If you include a foreign degree, cost will go up to 5-6 crores. Don’t panic, this is spread over 20 years and accounts for inflation. Good story by @jashkriplani. https://t.co/YFi3Sl4g91 pic.twitter.com/YeWswdRTQs
— Neil Borate (@ActusDei) August 21, 2023
The Netizens React On Raising A Child
This extensive list of costs caused many people online to reconsider having a child in this day and age. Here are a few of the responses:
Laughing at comments saying this would deter people from having children. I mean….it should???
Kids whose “costs” aren’t accounted for grow up listening to (urban, middle-class) parents whining about the favour they did by creating & raising them – something no child deserves. https://t.co/R6Db7XD2dM— Anagha (@songpapdi) August 21, 2023
This is the best contraceptive ad I’ve seen https://t.co/h3ToIwEyJh
— അ (@MulundSoman) August 21, 2023
In spite of this, some folks and most Indian parents will be like… “Beta, vansh ko aage badhana hai.”
“… but salary, inflation…?”
“Woh sab chodo, bachche honge tto sab thik hoga.”
The ‘thik’ they’re referring to: https://t.co/7YJL23ktuQ
— Kartz (Also: @[email protected]) (@Lord_Kartz) August 22, 2023
What do you think of this research done by Mint? Would you want to have kids? Make sure to share your opinions with us in the comment section below. We await your response!
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