The Chief Minister further argued that a growing population should be seen not as a burden, but as an asset. He also raised concerns about the declining fertility rate in Andhra Pradesh and other southern states.
Published Jul 11, 2025 | 10:12 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 11, 2025 | 10:12 PM
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu
Synopsis: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has proposed incentives for larger families, citing concerns over the state’s declining fertility rate. Speaking at a World Population Day event, he said current policies promoting small families may need to be reversed. He express concern that a falling birth rate could affect the state’s workforce and representation in Parliament.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has called for a major rethink of population policies, suggesting that it may be time for the state government to offer incentives to couples who have more children, in a bid to address the state’s skewed demographic profile.
Speaking at a World Population Day event near the State Secretariat in Velagapudi, Amaravati, on Friday, 11 July, Naidu said that the earlier approach of incentivising smaller families may no longer be viable.
“In the past, we capped the PDS [Public Distribution System] rice quota at 25 kg for a family of five. But now, we may need to provide five kg of rice per person, regardless of family size. If a family has 10 members, they should get 50 kg,” he explained.
Naidu revealed that the government is actively considering a new policy framework that encourages larger families.
“Having more children is no longer just a personal choice. It is a service to society and the nation,” he said.
The Chief Minister recalled that during his previous tenure, legislation was introduced to disqualify individuals with more than two children from contesting in local body elections.
“We repealed that law. Now, we may have to consider new legislation that disqualifies those with fewer than two children,” he said.
Naidu’s speech marked a significant policy shift, urging a move away from traditional “population control” rhetoric toward a focus on “population management”.
The event was attended by intellectuals, policymakers, and community leaders and focused on reimagining population growth as a cornerstone of the state’s development strategy.
The Chief Minister further argued that a growing population should be seen not as a burden, but as an asset.
He also raised concerns about the declining fertility rate in Andhra Pradesh and other southern states.
Citing the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), he said the state’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) stands at 1.70, well below the replacement rate of 2.1 to ensure equilibrium between births and deaths.
“We must act now to ensure that we have a young, productive workforce in the future,” he said.
Naidu drew parallels with countries like Japan, China, and Germany, where falling birth rates and ageing populations have begun to strain economic systems.
He stressed that Andhra Pradesh must avoid a similar fate and leverage its demographic dividend to drive growth and global competitiveness.
He also flagged concerns over parliamentary seat allocations, saying that the slower population growth in southern states could result in a reduction in their representation in the Lok Sabha compared to the north, where population growth remains high.
“This would be a disadvantage for us in the long run,” he noted.
A live poll conducted during the programme revealed that 67.41 percent of respondents preferred not having more than two children, 12.34 percent wanted only one child, and 19.88 percent were open to having three children.
Naidu expressed concern over this trend, pointing out that rising costs were deterring young couples from expanding their families.
“People are worried about expenses, but we must create a system where children are viewed as an investment in the future, not a liability,” he said.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
