Andhra’s Hum Do to be incentivised for Hamare Chaar
The CM announced incentives of Rs 30,000 for the birth of a third child and Rs 40,000 for a fourth, as part of efforts to reverse the State’s declining population trend - N Chandrababu Naidu, CM
Perhaps to be the first of its kind, Andhra Pradesh has announced a unique measure to reverse the State’s declining population trend. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday announced incentives of Rs 30,000 for the birth of a third child and Rs 40,000 for a fourth, as part of efforts to reverse the State’s declining population trend.
Rejecting the notion that children are a burden, Naidu argued that they are an asset and vowed to demonstrate it. Although he had once advocated population control measures, the CM said the time had now come for society to work together to increase the birth rate.
“I have made a new decision. We will provide Rs 30,000 immediately after the birth of a third child and Rs 40,000 for a fourth child. Isn’t this the right decision?” Naidu said on the sidelines of the Swarna Andhra Swachh Andhra cleanliness programme in Srikakulam district. He mentioned the decision has been firmed up and would be announced with further details within a month. Naidu’s latest announcement follows an earlier proposal to provide a Rs 25,000 incentive for the birth of a second child. On March 5, he informed the Assembly that the State Government was considering an incentive of Rs 25,000 for couples having a second child.
According to Naidu, rising incomes are leading some couples to opt for a single child, while others are choosing a second child only if their firstborn is a girl.
As a result, he warned that the state’s population growth rate is declining and stressed the importance of maintaining the replacement-level Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of 2.1.
He noted that a population remains stable only when the fertility rate is 2.1 children per woman. He emphasised that declining populations and ageing societies in several countries have adversely affected their economies.
Referring to the Talliki Vandanam welfare scheme, which provides Rs 15,000 per school-going child per annum, Naidu said he would increase the amount “if God shows mercy”.
On this AP Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav said that this is nothing new since the government had decided to extend the incentives to families having a third child and beyond.
