Naidu Announces Major Cash Incentive for Families
New Delhi: N. Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday announced a new financial incentive scheme aimed at encouraging population growth in Andhra Pradesh. The chief minister said families would receive Rs 30,000 on the birth of a third child and Rs 40,000 for a fourth child.
He made the announcement while addressing a public gathering in Narasannapeta during the Swarna Andhra–Swachh Andhra programme.
Speaking at the event, Naidu said the state must rethink its approach towards population policies as birth rates continue to decline. He noted that earlier governments focused heavily on family planning, but the current demographic situation demands a different strategy.
According to the chief minister, children should now be viewed as an asset for the country rather than a burden. He added that the government is preparing measures to support families and encourage higher birth rates in the state.
“I once worked for family planning, but today children are our wealth,” Naidu said while explaining the reason behind the proposed scheme.
Andhra Pradesh currently has an estimated population of around 5.37 crore to 5.40 crore, making it the tenth most populous state in India. However, the state’s annual population growth rate has slowed to nearly 0.29 per cent, one of the lowest in the country.
Spread across 160,205 square kilometres, Andhra Pradesh has a population density of approximately 304 people per square kilometre.
The announcement comes amid wider national discussions over declining fertility rates, ageing populations and the long-term impact on workforce availability and economic growth in several Indian states.
