The Singaporean Premier – Lee Hsien Loong – is a worried man. Worried that his people are not having enough babies. Worried about a declining (population) growth rate. And worried that the island state of Singapore – or Singha poora the kingdom of lions – will not be able to compete against the billion plus Chinese and Indians in the years to come.

So his advice to his people is to have more children. Whereas, in India the mantra is ek ya do bas (one or two is enough) Lee suggests that Singaporeans should atleast have two children, or three if they can.

IHT reporting on the situation says that:

Despite its efforts, Singapore’s birth rate fell to a record low of 1.26 per woman last year, well below the 2.1 necessary to keep the population steady. Marriages dropped 5 percent; divorces rose to a record.Many young people cite the high cost of raising children and the impact on their lifestyles for why they are waiting longer to marry and have children.But evidence is growing that Singapore’s race to prosperity has simply left no time for romance.

Families in Singapore – and women in particular – are now going to be given extra benefits to have more babies. It reminds of a similar scheme I read about – a very long time ago – in the then Soviet Union. Devastated by the Second World War and Stalin’s purges – the USSR faced a rapidly diminishing population in the western (European) part of its Empire, while the Asian (Muslim) part of the country was growing rapidly. Women were given awards and special privelages to bear more children.

I suppose that sooner or later the Japanese are going to figure out a way of breeding humans – not cloning – without the need for sex. If they can put out a car that exhibits emotions on the road, this should be a cakewalk:)