Thinadhoo City Council will provide one-time financial assistance to families who register newborn children in Gaaf Dhaalu Thinadhoo.

The council said in a statement today that the assistance is being provided under a policy aimed at increasing Thinadhoo’s population, addressing the country’s relatively low population growth and encouraging young families to have more children.

The assistance will be provided in two categories.

Under Category A, MVR 1,500 will be given for each child born to residents of Thinadhoo. Category B provides MVR 2,000 for children born to parents from another island who are registered in Thinadhoo.

The assistance will be available for children born in Thinadhoo, as well as children born elsewhere who are initially registered in Thinadhoo.

A child will be considered registered in Thinadhoo once an identity card has been issued. An application for the assistance must be submitted to the council within one month of the child’s registration.

Under the policy, at least one of the child’s parents must be registered in Thinadhoo. The child must also be registered in Thinadhoo, even if neither parent is a resident of the city.