Chandrababu Naidu Advances Pro-Natalist Policies

metro india news  I Srikakulam

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday announced cash incentives for families with more than two children. 

“The government is formulating a comprehensive population management policy, shifting focus from traditional family planning to ‘population care.’ Key proposals include financial assistance of Rs 25,000 or more at delivery for the second and subsequent children, with specific incentives such as Rs 30,000 for a third child and Rs 40,000 for a fourth in some outlines. Additional benefits under consideration include monthly nutritional support (such as Rs 1,000 for five years), free education up to age 18, health insurance, and extended maternity and paternity leave,” he said.

These incentives aim to make larger families more viable amid economic pressures. Naidu has highlighted that around three lakh families, or 58 percent of certain tracked groups, currently have only one child, while fewer have two or more. Boosting the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) back toward the replacement level of 2.1 is a central target.

As implementation details of the incentives roll out, the initiative could influence national discussions on demographics. While India is projected to maintain a youthful profile longer than many nations, southern states like Andhra Pradesh are seeking to avoid premature ageing traps. Naidu’s administration believes that targeted support today will yield a stronger demographic foundation tomorrow, ensuring the state’s development trajectory remains robust amid evolving challenges.

This is not the first time Naidu has spoken about the issue. He has spearheaded efforts to encourage families to have more children, citing demographic challenges facing the state and the nation. The move includes the recent removal of the two-child norm for local body elections and proposals for financial incentives, as highlighted in his public addresses, including remarks in Srikakulam emphasising cash support for larger families.

Naidu has consistently advocated this stance even before the Assembly elections. He argues that after decades of successful family planning that curbed population growth, the state now faces the opposite problem: a sharply declining total fertility rate (TFR) that threatens its future workforce and economic vitality. The government has acted on these concerns by amending laws and outlining supportive measures.

On November 19, 2024, the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly passed the AP Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the AP Municipal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024. These bills eliminated the disqualification clause that had barred candidates with more than two children from contesting local body elections. 

The two-child norm, originally introduced in 1994 during Naidu’s earlier tenure as Chief Minister in undivided Andhra Pradesh, had aimed to control population growth at a time when the state’s TFR was higher.

The 1994 amendments to the Panchayat Raj Act, Municipal Corporations Act, and Municipalities Act reflected the national priority on family planning during an era of higher birth rates. Three decades later, the Naidu-led government reversed course, recognising changing socio-economic realities and a falling TFR. A cabinet decision in August 2024 paved the way for these legislative changes, which were passed by voice vote without debate.

Current demographic data underscores Naidu’s rationale. Andhra Pradesh’s TFR has dropped to approximately 1.5, well below the replacement level of 2.1 needed for population stability. This marks a steep decline from around 3.0 in 1993 and 2.2 in 2003 (for the combined Andhra-Telangana region). According to Sample Registration System and other estimates, the state recorded about 6.7 lakh births in 2023.

Projections indicate that if current trends continue, nearly 23 percent of the state’s population could be over 60 years old by 2047, up from roughly 10 percent currently. The median age in Andhra Pradesh stands at 32.5 years, higher than the national average of 28.4 years. These shifts point to a faster-ageing population compared to many other parts of India, raising concerns about a shrinking working-age cohort, strained pension and healthcare systems, and potential slowdowns in economic growth.

Naidu has drawn parallels with countries like Japan, South Korea, Italy, and China, which grapple with ageing societies and labour shortages. He emphasises that southern Indian states, including Andhra Pradesh, risk similar challenges, while the nation as a whole is expected to continue benefiting from a demographic dividend until around 2047. In public speeches, including pre-election campaigns and recent addresses, he has urged families to aim for at least two or three children to sustain population balance and secure the state’s future workforce.