Amaravati, May 17: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has announced financial incentives for families having a third or fourth child. This decision comes in response to growing concerns over the state’s declining total fertility rate (TFR).
While addressing a public gathering in Srikakulam district, the Chief Minister revealed that the government will provide ₹30,000 for a third child and ₹40,000 for a fourth. Naidu, who was a strong advocate for population control during his tenure from 1995 to 2004 in united Andhra Pradesh, now views population as an asset rather than a burden.
Officials indicate that the incentives for additional children are inspired by models from countries like France and Hungary, which have adopted similar policies to avoid future demographic crises.
According to the state’s health department, Andhra Pradesh is aging faster than the national average, with an average age of 32.5 years compared to India’s 28.4 years. Experts warn that the state will only maintain its demographic dividend until 2040, after which the proportion of the elderly population may rise sharply.
The total fertility rate in Andhra Pradesh has dropped from 3.0 in 1993 to 1.5 today, significantly below the replacement level of 2.1. This trend mirrors demographic challenges faced by developed nations such as Japan, South Korea, and Italy.
Since taking office in 2024, Naidu has consistently advocated for population growth, emphasizing the need to raise the TFR to 2.1. His government has already taken steps in this direction by abolishing the two-child policy for local body elections.
In March, Naidu introduced the country’s first ‘Population Management Policy,’ which he described as a game-changer for population growth. This policy includes provisions for monthly nutritional support of ₹1,000 for five years for families with a third child, as well as free education until the age of 18.
The Chief Minister has also announced plans to offer 12 months of maternity leave and two months of paternity leave to encourage larger families. He warned that a further decline in fertility rates could lead to a shrinking workforce, negatively impacting economic growth.
Saurabh Gaur, the state’s Secretary for Health, Medical and Family Welfare, stated that Andhra Pradesh is now facing issues similar to those of many developed countries, where the non-working age population is rapidly increasing.
Under the population management policy, the government is preparing to implement a five-phase life cycle system, including programs named ‘Maternity,’ ‘Shakti,’ ‘Kshema,’ ‘Naipunyam,’ and ‘Sanjeevani.’ The government has assured support at every stage, from pregnancy to old age. Naidu also announced that IVF services will be available in government hospitals for childless couples and those facing reproductive issues through a PPP model.
The health department has proposed establishing a ‘Fertility College’ for reproductive medicine, where specialists will be trained, and government-assisted IVF treatments will be provided to childless couples. The government aims to reduce the number of cesarean deliveries and lower the adolescent pregnancy rate from the current 8.8% to below 3%.
As part of the ‘Golden Andhra Vision 2047,’ population management and human resource development have been identified as a key focus area, reflecting a shift from population control to population stability.
Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
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