Andhra Pradesh CM's Incentive Plan to Boost State's Birth Rate

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced financial incentives for families having a third or fourth child to curb the state's declining population. He proposed Rs 30,000 for the third child and Rs 40,000 for the fourth, following a previous Rs 25,000 incentive for a second child.

In a strategic effort to combat Andhra Pradesh's declining birth rate, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu revealed a new incentive scheme on Saturday at a public meeting in Narsannapeta, Srikakulam district. The government plans to offer Rs 30,000 for a third child and Rs 40,000 for a fourth.

The initiative marks a notable shift in policy for Naidu, who previously supported population control. However, with current demographic challenges, he emphasized the need to maintain a Total Fertility Rate of 2.1 children per woman to stabilize the population. Naidu argued that children should be seen as assets, not burdens, citing economic repercussions in countries with shrinking populations.

Minister Satya Kumar Yadav confirmed that the state government extended incentives designed to encourage families to consider having more than two children. This initiative expands upon an earlier proposal announced in March, which presented a Rs 25,000 benefit for the birth of a second child, highlighting the state’s commitment to reversing demographic declines.