Andhra Pradesh Considers Rs 25,000 Incentive For Second And Third Child To Push Falling Birth Rate
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced today that the state government is considering a Rs 25,000 birth incentive for couples from their second child onwards to address the southern state's declining fertility rate.
Speaking in the state Legislative Assembly, the Chief Minister presented a draft population management policy that marks a fundamental shift in India's approach to demographic planning.
The government aims to raise Andhra Pradesh's Total Fertility Rate to 2.1 from the current 1.5, which is below the replacement level.
Naidu expressed serious concern that the fertility rate has fallen from 3.0 in 1993 to 1.5 at present, warning that this posed a threat to economic growth due to a decline in the number of young working people.
Parents having a second child or more will receive Rs 25,000 at the time of delivery.
To encourage more childbirths, the government is planning to provide 12 months' maternal leave and two months' paternal leave.
The initiatives also include subsidised In-Vitro Fertilisation services and a five-stage life cycle approach to population management.
The Chief Minister stated that family planning has been given priority for years and that the focus will now shift to 'population care'.
He said, "We are strengthening the ecosystem that enables families to thrive through working women hostels, childcare centres, pink toilets, and improved maternal care through Matrutva centres of excellence."
"Through our five-pillar life-cycle framework: Matrutva, Shakti, Naipunyam, Kshema and Sanjeevani, we will ensure support from safe motherhood to skilling, healthy ageing and integrated public health delivery for every citizen," the Chief Minister added.