Population Push In Andhra Pradesh: Chandrababu Naidu Announces Cash Incentives Of Rs 30,000 To Rs 40,000

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has announced a major population policy shift aimed at encouraging families to have more children amid growing concerns over declining birth rates in the state.

Addressing a public event in Tamrapalli village of Srikakulam district, Naidu said the state government is preparing a new population management policy that will move away from traditional family planning ideas and instead focus on encouraging population growth.

Calling children the "wealth" of society, the Chief Minister stressed that Andhra Pradesh is facing a serious demographic challenge due to falling fertility rates.

Andhra Pradesh To Offer Incentives For Third And Fourth Child

As part of the new policy, Naidu announced enhanced financial incentives for families having more than two children.

According to the Chief Minister, the government plans to provide ₹30,000 for the birth of a third child and ₹40,000 for a fourth child.

He said the aim of the policy is to encourage population growth and maintain long-term demographic balance in the state.

Naidu also revealed that the government is considering additional financial support and welfare measures for larger families under the upcoming policy framework.

Why Andhra Pradesh Is Worried About Population Decline

The Chief Minister explained that Andhra Pradesh's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has fallen sharply over the last few decades.

According to Naidu, the state's TFR currently stands at 1.5, compared to 3.0 in 1993.
Experts generally consider a fertility rate of 2.1 necessary to maintain population stability.
Naidu warned that if birth rates continue declining rapidly, the state could face serious economic and workforce-related challenges in the future.

He said fewer young people in the working-age population could eventually slow economic growth and increase pressure on welfare systems.

The announcement comes amid discussions in several southern states over demographic changes, ageing populations, and declining fertility rates in the context of the population-based delimitation exercise proposed by the BJP-led Union government.

The proposed Delimitation Bill has sparked major friction between the Union government and southern states due to fears of reduced political representation.

The TDP is part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), and Andhra Pradesh is the only southern state government that has not opposed the delimitation exercise.

Looks like more children is the solution Naidu is advocating for delimitation related issues

Naidu Cites Global Examples

While speaking about the issue, Naidu pointed to countries such as Japan, South Korea and Italy, which are already facing ageing population crises due to low fertility rates.
He said similar demographic patterns are now emerging in India and particularly in Andhra Pradesh.

According to 2023 data shared by the Chief Minister, around 6.7 lakh births were recorded in Andhra Pradesh during the year.

He warned that if the current trend continues, nearly 23% of the state's population could become elderly by 2047, creating long-term economic and social challenges.

New Population Policy To Focus On "Population Care"

Earlier this year on March 5, Naidu had presented the draft of a comprehensive Population Management Policy in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly.

He explained that the government is now shifting its focus from "family planning" to what he called "population care."

The proposed policy aims to encourage childbirth while also supporting mothers, children and families through welfare schemes.
Naidu said the government wants to create a balanced population structure that supports economic growth, workforce stability and long-term development.

More Benefits Planned For Families

Apart from the cash incentives announced for third and fourth children, the state government is also planning several additional benefits under the policy.

Naidu said families having a second child or more may receive ₹25,000 at the time of delivery as part of the state's childbirth support initiative.
The policy also proposes monthly nutritional support of ₹1,000 for five years for the third child.

In addition, the government is considering free education for the third child up to the age of 18 years.
The Chief Minister also announced that the state is exploring the possibility of providing 12 months of parental leave for the birth of a third child.
This proposal may include two months of paternity leave for fathers as well.

Women's Participation And Economic Growth Linked To Policy

Naidu also linked the population policy to economic development and women's participation in the workforce.

According to him, Andhra Pradesh currently has a female labour force participation rate of around 31%.
He said if this rises to nearly 59%, the state's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) could potentially increase by around 15%.
The Chief Minister stressed that population growth policies must go hand in hand with education, healthcare, nutrition and women's empowerment.

Five-Pillar Population Strategy

Naidu said the new policy will follow a five-stage life-cycle approach built around five major pillars:

• Maatrutvam (Motherhood)
• Shakti (Empowerment)
• Kshema (Wellbeing)
• Naipunyam (Skills)
• Sanjeevani (Healthcare)

According to the government, the policy is designed not only to increase birth rates but also to improve overall quality of life for families and children.

Anganwadi And Welfare Schemes Strengthened

During the public meeting, Naidu also spoke about strengthening welfare schemes linked to mothers and children.

He said the government is improving the Anganwadi system and providing financial support of ₹15,000 to mothers under the "Thalliki Vandanam" scheme.

The Chief Minister said the government wants to ensure that mothers and children receive proper nutrition, healthcare and support from early childhood onwards.

Focus On Land Record Reforms Too

Apart from the population policy, Naidu also highlighted ongoing land administration reforms in Andhra Pradesh.

He said the state government is carrying out a major re-survey process to clean and update land records.
According to him, modern technology is being used to issue tamper-proof pattadar passbooks to reduce manipulation and disputes related to land ownership.

A Major Shift In India's Population Debate

Naidu's announcement marks a significant shift in how some Indian states are beginning to view population management.

For decades, India's policy focus largely centred around controlling population growth.
However, declining fertility rates in certain regions are now pushing governments to think differently about demographic balance and future workforce needs.

Andhra Pradesh's proposed incentives for larger families may now trigger wider national discussions on population decline, economic sustainability and the changing realities of India's demographic future.