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'It's rare to find a Nyoman or Ketut': Bali tells parents to have third, fourth child
The province has seen a decline in population growth in the past few years, with a 1.1 percent growth rate recorded in 2017. The figure is slightly lower than the national rate of 1.2 percent.
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Beachgoers take part in releasing 100 sea turtle hatchlings at a beach in Serangan, Bali. (The Jakarta Post/Agung Parameswara)
I
n what seems to be a contrast to global concerns over overpopulation, Bali Governor Wayan Koster has encouraged residents to have four children, as suggested by local wisdom.
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician has ordered all regents and city mayors across the island to stop all family planning programs from the central government, which encourages couples to have two children.
In an instruction letter on Balinese Krama Family Planning signed on June 14, he demanded that all local leaders run family planning programs according to local wisdom to create “superior Balinese and quality family”.
Bali administration spokesperson Agung Sutha said the instruction letter was made to respect the reproduction rights of the Balinese people
“What we mean is that the Balinese people have the right to have more than two children — even four children,” Sutha said, adding that regents and mayors are expected to follow up on the instruction.
Parents in the island province traditionally name their children according to the order in which they are born. The first child is named Gede, Putu or Wayan, while Made or Kadek is the name given to the second child. Meanwhile, the third child is usually called either Nyoman or Komang, and the fourth child is named Ketut.
Home to more than 4.2 million people, the province has seen a decline in population growth in the past few years, with a 1.1 percent growth rate recorded in 2017. The figure is slightly lower than the national rate of 1.2 percent.
