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Srinagar: The fertility rate in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir is falling sharply, with experts citing fear and uncertainty from frequent raids and cordon and search operations as one of the reasons pushing couples to delay marriage and limit family size.<\/p>\n
According to Kashmir Media Service, IIOJK\u2019s total fertility rate has dropped to around 1.4 children per woman, below the replacement level of 2.1.<\/p>\n
In urban areas, it is as low as 1.2. A panel discussion in Sopore hosted by Haneefa Nursing College and Hakim Sonuallah Specialist Hospital said delayed marriages, economic insecurity, youth unemployment and social pressures are among key factors.<\/p>\n
Experts including Dr Farhat Jabeen and Dr Kaiser Ahmed noted that women are marrying later, often in their late 20s and 30s, narrowing the reproductive window. \u201cAlong with financial insecurity and high unemployment, the atmosphere of fear created by frequent raids and search operations is affecting family planning decisions,\u201d the experts said.<\/p>\n
They added that rising education and divorce rates are also leading women to seek financial independence before marriage.<\/p>\n
The discussion noted that most couples now stop at one child due to the cost of raising children and the absence of extended family support in nuclear households.<\/p>\n
Experts warned that the trend will strain the future workforce, increase the old-age dependency ratio and put pressure on an already weak healthcare system.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Srinagar: The fertility rate in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir is falling sharply, with experts citing fear and uncertainty from frequent raids and cordon and search operations as one of the reasons pushing couples to delay marriage and limit family size. According to Kashmir Media Service, IIOJK\u2019s total fertility rate has dropped to …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":200807,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-200806","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-indian-occupied-jammu-and-kashmir"],"yoast_head":"\n