Andhra Pradesh Population Management Policy: Get ₹25,000 for a Third Child

Andhra Pradesh Population Management Policy: Get ₹25,000 for Having a Third Child, CM Chandrababu Naidu Announces

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has expressed deep concern over the state’s falling Total Fertility Rate (TFR) and has taken a historic step to fix it.

Recently, keeping the declining fertility rate in mind, CM Chandrababu Naidu proposed the country’s first ‘Population Management Policy’ in the state assembly. Under this new policy, the government will provide financial incentives for the birth of a third child, special leave for parents, and extensive facilities for women.

People often think that a country like India needs strict population control, but the truth is that the population in several South Indian states is aging rapidly. Keeping this in mind, the Andhra Pradesh government has tabled the Population Management Policy in the assembly. Under this policy, the government will provide financial incentives for the birth of a third child, special leave for parents, and extensive facilities for women.

He declared that population growth is now a boon, and the state government will prioritize and promote it. The goal is to finalize this crucial policy by the end of March and implement it from April 1.

‘A Threat to Economic Growth’: Why Was This Policy Needed?

The CM clearly stated in the assembly that the main objective of this new population management policy is to improve the falling fertility rate (TFR), which was 3.0 in 1993 and has now dropped to 1.5. The reality is that for any society to maintain a stable population, the replacement rate should be 2.1.

The Chief Minister expressed concern that this decline is a major threat to economic growth because the young workforce is constantly shrinking. If left unchecked, the state might soon face a severe aging population crisis similar to Japan, South Korea, and Italy.

The numbers speak for themselves. The Chief Minister informed the house that according to a 2023 report, only 6.70 lakh births are being recorded in the state every year. If this situation continues, the proportion of elderly people will reach 23 percent by 2047, which is a direct threat to economic development.

To take the state’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) to 15 percent, it is mandatory to increase the female workforce participation from 31 percent to 59 percent. Because of these factors, the government is now viewing population growth as a blessing rather than a burden.

The 5-Stage Life Cycle System and New Facilities

To balance women’s health and employment, the government has designed an entire ecosystem. Under the proposed policy, the government will launch a special 5-stage life cycle system comprising Matrutva, Shakti, Naipunyam, Kshema, and Sanjeevani.

To assist pregnant women, state-of-the-art ‘Matrutva Centres of Excellence’ will be established, where IVF services will also be available for couples in need.

The government will actively discourage unnecessary Cesarean operations (C-Sections) to promote normal deliveries. To make childcare easier, child care centers and pink toilets will be built for every 50 children. To facilitate working women, a massive hostel will be constructed in Visakhapatnam at a heavy cost of ₹172 crore.

Special Package for the Third Child (Bonus and Leaves)

The biggest attraction of this policy is its incentive structure. To encourage population growth, the government will give a direct incentive of ₹25,000 on the birth of a third child under the ‘Nutrition-Education-Security’ package.

The government is standing by parents not just at birth, but also for the child’s upbringing. The third child will be given ₹1,000 every month for five years, and free education will be provided until the age of 18.

For employed parents, the Chief Minister announced that mothers will be given 12 months (1 year) of maternity leave and fathers will get 2 months of paternity leave, which is the biggest leave package in the country so far. To spread awareness, special programs on ‘Population Care’ will be organized every fourth Saturday.

Priority in Local Elections and Women’s Safety

Families with more children are being given benefits at the political level as well. The current coalition government has already given people with more than two children the opportunity to contest local body elections. (Previously, having more than two children barred individuals from contesting).

Additionally, under the education-boosting ‘Thalliki Vandanam’ scheme, financial assistance is being provided by removing the cap on the number of children.

To make women’s safety and health checkups more accessible, ‘She Cabs’ will be introduced in the state, and two-week special clinics will be organized in 175 Primary Health Centers. The government’s clear goal is to save the state from a future demographic crisis through this visionary policy.

FAQs (People Also Ask)

Q1. How much money will be given for a third child in Andhra Pradesh? Answer: Under Andhra Pradesh’s new ‘Population Management Policy’, parents will receive an incentive of ₹25,000 on the birth of their third child. Additionally, the child will receive ₹1,000 every month for 5 years and free education until the age of 18.

Q2. When will the new population policy be implemented in AP? Answer: Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu stated in the assembly that the policy will be finalized by the end of March and the goal is to implement it from April 1.

Q3. What are the new maternity and paternity leave rules in AP? Answer: On the birth of a third child, mothers will be granted 12 months (1 year) of maternity leave, and fathers will be granted 2 months of paternity leave.

Q4. Why are South Indian states encouraging people to have more children? Answer: The fertility rate (TFR) in states like Andhra Pradesh has dropped to 1.5. If this trend continues, 23% of the state’s population will be elderly by 2047, leading to a shortage of young workers and halting economic growth.

Q5. Can people with more than two children contest elections in Andhra Pradesh? Answer: Yes, the coalition government in Andhra Pradesh recently changed the rules, allowing individuals with more than two children to contest local body elections (Panchayat/Municipal).