Bill on Reproductive Health Promotion Introduced in Parliament Amid Declining Population Growth

An expert has stated that the Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Rights Bill, introduced by the government in parliament, aims to address Nepal’s declining population growth rate. Alongside this, the Ministry of Health and Food Security has also registered a bill regulating the sale and distribution of substitutes for breastfeeding related to infant health.

Minister Mehta noted that according to Nepal’s latest census, the population growth rate is continually declining, marking the necessity for extended leave periods and amendments in maternal health protection laws for the state’s long-term human capital development.

“Do not consider the six-month maternity leave merely as a benefit or leave granted only to employees. It is a mark of respect for motherhood and is closely linked to the health and nutrition of mothers and newborns, as well as being crucial for the state’s long-term human capital development,” Minister Mehta stated in the House of Representatives. This bill, enacted to implement reproductive health rights guaranteed by the constitution, mandates paid maternity leave for six months before and after childbirth for women in government, non-governmental, and private sectors.

Ministry of Health and Food Security spokesperson Dr. Sameer Kumar Adhikari explained that the bill will further enforce the policy of exclusively breastfeeding infants for six months. “We advocate for exclusive breastfeeding for six months, but current leave policies do not allow this duration. With an increasing number of working mothers and considerations for fairness among all parties, this amendment bill has been introduced,” he said. The bill also provides for a 42-day paid paternity leave for male employees after their spouses give birth.

Nepal’s most recent census reveals approximately a 31 percent decline in the population growth rate over the past decade. Researchers interpret the drop from 1.35 percent growth in 2011 (Bikram Sambat 2068) to 0.92 percent in 2021 (Bikram Sambat 2078) as an indicator of decreasing birth rates. “This trend of declining population growth is recognizable worldwide,” stated Padma Prasad Khatri, Associate Professor at Tribhuvan University.