Humanism Foundation to honour mothers with five children with 'Khunai-Kanbi Ema' award
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 31 2025: In a move to recognise and encourage timely marriage and family growth, the Humanism Foundation has announced the launch of the 'Khunai-Kanbi Ema' Award, which will be presented to mothers who have given birth to five children.

The award distribution will commence from August 2025, and aims to address declining birth rates within the Meitei community.

The Humanism Foundation in a release stated that, according to the United Nations 2024 Revision of World Population Prospects, the global average Total Fertility Rate (TFR) stands at 2.11, which is the replacement-level fertility rate, and anything below this figure could gradually lead to population decline over the next 30-50 years.

Alarmingly, developed nations such as Japan and South Korea have seen TFRs drop to 0.7 and 1.3 respectively, far below the normal rate.

These countries have adopted urgent precautionary measures to counteract the decline, said Dr Wahengbam Rorrkychand Singh, managing trustee of the Foundation.

Highlighting the local relevance, Dr Rorrkychand referred to the 5th National Family Health Survey (2019-21) by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt of India, which indicates that Manipurs's TFR has fallen to 1.77 .

"Manipur with a history of over 2000 years, is now witnessing a silent demographic crisis similar to Japan and South Korea where now many schools are shutting down due to fewer children, old towns and villages disappearing, and the workforce is declining," he noted.

Dr Rorrkychand attributed the declining birth rate to factors such as instability in the region, socio-economic instability, rising costs of marriage, career priorities and fear of economic hardship, which deter many from starting families early.

Such factors have led many youth of the State, particularly Meitei community, to become discouraged and have spread like a disease, said Rorrkychand.

The Foundation, active since 2017 in numerous welfare activities including skill development training, social awareness and aid for the underprivileged, with a firm commitment has resolved to honour mothers of 5 or more children with the "Khunai-Kanba Ema" award starting from August, and has sought public support for the initiative.

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