Naidu unveils ₹30,000 and ₹40,000 child birth assistance scheme
Andhra Pradesh news
The Andhra Pradesh government has taken a major step to encourage population growth. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced financial incentives for families having more children amid concerns over declining fertility rates and reduced parliamentary representation for southern states.
Under the new proposal, families will receive ₹30,000 for the birth of a third child and ₹40,000 for the birth of a fourth child. The government plans to release detailed guidelines within a month.
While addressing a public gathering in Srikakulam, Naidu said many couples now prefer having only one child because of rising living costs. Additionally, some families choose a second child only if the first child is not a boy. Consequently, the state’s population growth rate continues to decline.
Naidu emphasized that an average fertility rate of 2.1 is necessary to maintain a stable population. Furthermore, he warned that several countries have already faced economic challenges because of shrinking populations. He also rejected the belief that children are a burden, stating that children are valuable assets for society and the economy.
At the same time, southern states remain concerned that future Lok Sabha delimitation could reduce their parliamentary representation, while northern states may gain more seats due to higher population growth.
Notably, Andhra Pradesh has become the first southern state to announce such incentives. Political observers now believe that other states may also introduce similar measures in the coming years.
Andhra Pradesh news
