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The government of Andhra Pradesh has unveiled a new population management policy aimed at addressing the declining fertility rate and the long-term economic impact of an ageing population.
Speaking in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly on Thursday, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said the state must move beyond traditional family planning and instead focus on “population care", with support systems for citizens throughout their lives.
Naidu said a draft of the new policy has been placed before the Assembly and the public, and the government has invited suggestions and discussion over the next month before finalising the framework.
Falling Fertility Rates
The chief minister highlighted that falling fertility rates are already a major concern in countries such as Japan, South Korea and Italy, and similar trends are now visible in India as well as Andhra Pradesh.
According to the government, the state’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has dropped sharply to 1.5, compared with 3.0 in 1993. Naidu noted that the ideal fertility rate should be around 2.1 to maintain demographic balance.
He explained that as economies develop, birth rates tend to decline, which can eventually lead to workforce shortages and economic challenges.
Data from 2023 shows that around 6.70 lakh births were registered annually in the state. If the current trend continues, projections indicate that 23% of the population could be elderly by 2047, raising concerns about workforce availability and economic sustainability.
Family Trends in Andhra Pradesh
Naidu also presented data on family size trends in the state. According to him, about 58% of families currently have only one child, while around 2.17 lakh families have two children. Nearly 62 lakh families have three or more children.
He further noted that around three lakh families have only one child instead of two, while another three lakh families have more than two children, highlighting the uneven distribution in family sizes.
Incentives for Childbirth
To encourage population growth, the state government is proposing financial incentives for childbirth.
Under the proposed plan, parents who have a second child or more will receive ₹25,000 at the time of delivery. Naidu described the move as a major policy intervention aimed at boosting fertility rates in the state.
Five-Stage Life Cycle Approach
To manage population trends effectively, the government plans to introduce a five-stage life cycle approach to population management.
The policy will focus on five pillars:
- Motherhood
- Strength
- Welfare
- Skills
- Sanjeevani
Under this framework, the government aims to support citizens at every stage of life, particularly women, from pregnancy through old age.
Support for Mothers and IVF Treatment
As part of the initiative, the government plans to strengthen maternal care and support pregnant women through targeted welfare programmes.
The state also intends to help couples facing infertility challenges by establishing a Centre of Excellence for Motherhood and offering subsidised IVF services through a public-private partnership model.
Authorities also said steps will be taken to reduce the number of cesarean deliveries and improve maternal health outcomes.
Addressing Teenage Pregnancy and Women’s Workforce Participation
The policy also seeks to tackle social issues linked to fertility trends. The government plans to reduce teenage pregnancies from the current 8.8% to below 3%.
At the same time, officials stressed the importance of increasing women’s participation in the workforce. The female labour force participation rate currently stands at 31%, and officials estimate that if it rises to 59%, the state’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) could increase by 15%.
The government said the proposed policy aims to balance population stability, economic growth, and improved healthcare support for families in the state.
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