The Panzhihua municipal government in Sichuan province announced on Wednesday that it would offer subsidies for families which give birth to a second or third baby.

As it was the first in the country to offer subsidies for families with a second or third baby, it attracted much public attention.

The basic requirement for the subsidies is that the parents of a second or third baby must have registered residence permits and social security in the city, and that the second or third baby must have registered residence permits in Panzhihua, too.

Families meeting the requirements can receive the subsidies for a baby born on or after June 21, 2021, until the child turns three. For each baby, a family can receive 500 yuan ($78) per month.

The subsidies are expected to boost population growth in the city, critics say.

In 2020, Panzhihua's resident population was more than 1.2 million, 1,900 fewer than in 2010.