China is now monitoring couples' 'right time' to conceive a baby and pregnancy. But why?

The grassroots government workers in China, after spending decades in the imposition of birth control policies, have now started ringing women and appealing to them to get pregnant amid the country's dwindling demography.

According to a report published in the South China Morning Post, a woman - identified as Jane Huang - received a call from a government official who asked her a very unexpected question, “[Hello!] Is that Ms Huang? Sorry to disturb you. I am from your sub-district office, are you pregnant now?”

The 35-year-old working mother said that the worker went to the extent of asking her when she had her last period and gave her a reminder about now being "the right time” to conceive another baby.

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“I laughed so hard when I told my husband about it. The surveyor must be from the previous generation, who did not realise that she was talking to a whole different generation that values privacy, quality of life and choices much more,” said Huang.

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Like Huang, China's government is pursuing thousands of women to plan a child and soon get pregnant.

China pushes for pregnancy amid declining birth rate

The government is also trying to understand why so many women are not willing to have more children and come up with a new policy in the wake of a declining birth rate which is resulting in a demographic crisis.

China’s Population and Development Research Centre recently announced that a nationwide survey will be conducted to “obtain new data on views on marriage and fertility and key influencing factors”.

The National Bureau of Statistics has approved the Sample Survey on Population and Family Development in China which is targeting women of child-bearing age.

According to the centre, the survey will focus on understanding “the actual difficulties and needs of families in birth and parenting”, as well as the reasons for “not wanting or not daring to have children”, for providing a scientific basis to improve incentives and fertility support policies.

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The government worker's call in Huang’s case was cut short when she clarified that she had no plans for a second child. “When she asked why, I told her I have no money, no time and no energy for a second baby," she said.

A lot of people who have been contacted have vented “strong grievances” regarding theone-child policy and expressed worries regarding employment and the economy.

A lot of people who were fined by the government for breach of the birth control rule have demanded a refund of the penalties in the wake of the government's encouragement for more children.

“They said that is the best way for the government to show sincerity if it wants to promote births,” Lin said.

Meanwhile, there has been a sharp decline in the number of kindergartens by more than 5 per cent because of the declining birth rate in China.

(With inputs from agencies)