Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday announced financial incentives for families opting for a third and fourth child, citing concerns over the state's declining population. Speaking at a public event, Naidu said the government will provide ₹30,000 for a third child and ₹40,000 for a fourth child.
Reversing the Fertility Decline
Naidu has been a vocal advocate for larger families in Andhra Pradesh as the state's total fertility rate (TFR) has plummeted to an all-time low of 1.5, significantly below the population replacement level of 2.1. Earlier, the government had introduced an incentive of ₹25,000 for a second child. The latest measures expand financial support to encourage more births.
Andhra Pradesh is perhaps the only state in India actively promoting larger families through direct monetary incentives. The policy gains importance ahead of the proposed nationwide delimitation exercise, which could impact parliamentary representation. The state, once a leader in family planning, now faces a shrinking young population. If current trends persist, nearly 23% of the population could be above 60 years by 2047.
Economic and Social Measures
Naidu emphasized that children are now a vital economic resource and national asset. He announced plans to enhance the Talliki Vandanam scheme, which provides ₹15,000 annually to mothers or guardians for each schoolgoing child from classes 1 to 12. The government also offers free education for the third child up to 18 years and is opening fertility clinics to boost population growth.
The mean average age in Andhra Pradesh is 32.5 years, higher than the national average of 28.4. Female workforce participation stands at 31%, compared to the national average of 37%.
Swachh Andhra and Infrastructure Updates
During the Swarnandhra-Swachh Andhra program at Tamrapalli in Narasannapeta, Naidu also highlighted cleanliness drives. The government has cleared 86 lakh metric tonnes of legacy waste in 23 months and aims to clean 100% of garbage by June. Door-to-door collection handles 7,527 tonnes daily in urban areas and 1,430 tonnes in rural areas. Six waste-to-energy projects and six CBG plants are being set up at a cost of ₹1,254 crore, along with 107 integrated waste processing plants costing ₹603 crore.
On infrastructure, Naidu announced that the Bhogapuram international airport will become operational in July, with another airport coming up in Srikakulam district and a new airport in Palasa. The Moolapeta port will open this year, benefiting north Andhra.
Naidu asserted that by March 2027, there will be no land disputes in the state, as the government is purging land records through re-survey and issuing tamper-proof pattadar passbooks using modern technology.
