Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu pushes for bringing back joint family system, defends state’s population policy

Vijayawada: Calling for the revival of the traditional joint family system, chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday said grandparents and other family members play a crucial role in shaping children’s mindset by providing them with emotional support, values and guidance.Naidu administered polio drops to children during the Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme at the CM camp office and interacted with parents on childcare, health and upbringing. He said the joint family system is one of the biggest strengths of Indian society and stressed the need to bring back the family structure.He discussed the challenges faced by families, particularly those in which both parents work. He said that raising children should not be treated as the sole responsibility of the mother, but that the father and other family members should also actively participate in parenting.“The father and other family members must share the responsibility of bringing up children. Parenting should never be left entirely to the mother,” Naidu said. He defended the state govt’s population policy, saying that children should be treated as wealth, and not as a burden.Naidu said social attitudes towards having children are changing and emphasised that they should be viewed as a source of joy, strength and prosperity.

Reiterating the AP govt’s efforts to create awareness on the importance of larger families, Naidu said a family-friendly social environment should be encouraged, and people should understand the importance of having two or more children.He urged parents to ensure that children receive all govt-recommended vaccinations on time to protect their health. Health and Family Welfare Department officials informed the CM that the state aims to administer polio drops to around 4.92 million children below the age of five during the three-day pulse polio campaign launched on Sunday.Director of secondary health KVN Chakradhar Babu and officials from the National Health Mission (NHM) participated in the programme.