Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has proposed financial incentives to encourage childbirth in the southern state.
Announcing a population management policy in the Andhra state legislature Assembly on Thursday, Naidu said families having a second or third child will receive 25,000 at the time of delivery.
Encouraging childbirth, Naidu pointed out that around 3 lakh families, that is, about 58% of families currently have only one child, approximately 2.17 lakh families have two children, and nearly 62 lakh families have three or more children.
Highlighting the fact that the state’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has declined from 3.0 in 1993 to the current 1.5, the chief minister expressed concern that a low fertility rate could lead to workforce shortages and long-term economic challenges, similar to those faced by countries like Japan, South Korea and Italy.
The ideal TFR to maintain demographic balance is 2.1.
The Andhra government plans to introduce the population management policy from April 1.
Besides Rs 25,000 for the birth of a second or third child, there will be monthly financial support of 1,000 for the third child for five years and free education up to 18 years.
Other measures announced include 12 months of parental leave and two months of paternal leave, special leaves for couples giving birth to a third child, and the establishment of child care centres for every 50 children. The policy also proposes working women’s hostels, pink toilets, and She cabs for women’s protection.
The state government is also setting up Matrutva centres of excellence to offer IVF services and plans to discourage caesarean operations.
