Andhra Pradesh plans new population policy: Rs 25,000 incentive for 2nd and 3rd child
PTC Web Desk: The government of Andhra Pradesh is preparing to roll out a new population management policy aimed at encouraging families to have more children. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced the proposal in the state Assembly on Friday, outlining several financial and social incentives designed to address the state’s declining birth rate.
According to the Chief Minister, families welcoming a second or third child will receive a one-time financial assistance of Rs 25,000 at the time of delivery under the proposed scheme. The policy is expected to come into effect from April 1.
Naidu highlighted changing family trends in the state, noting that nearly 58% of households now have only one child. Around 2.17 lakh families have two children, while approximately 62 lakh families have three or more children. He also pointed out that about three lakh families currently have just one child instead of two, while a similar number have more than two children.
Expressing concern over the declining birth rate, Naidu said the state’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has dropped significantly, from 3.0 in 1993 to about 1.5 today. He explained that the ideal fertility rate needed to maintain population balance is 2.1. If the trend continues, he warned, the state could eventually face labour shortages and economic pressures similar to those experienced by countries such as Japan, South Korea and Italy.
Apart from the Rs 25,000 childbirth incentive, the proposed policy also includes a monthly allowance of Rs 1,000 for families with a third child for a period of five years. The government also plans to provide free education for such children until the age of 18.
The initiative includes several welfare measures aimed at supporting working parents. These include 12 months of parental leave, two months of leave for fathers, and special leave provisions for couples who have a third child. The government also intends to establish child care centres for every group of 50 children to support working families.
Other proposals focus on improving facilities for women, such as building working women’s hostels, introducing pink toilets, and launching “She Cabs” to enhance women’s safety and mobility.
In the healthcare sector, the government plans to establish specialised Matrutva centres of excellence offering IVF treatment services. Authorities also aim to reduce unnecessary caesarean deliveries and will organise special medical camps for two weeks across 175 primary health centres. Childcare educators will also receive specialised training as part of the programme.
Naidu further stressed the importance of increasing women’s participation in the workforce—from the current 31% to nearly 59%—to help achieve the state’s targeted 15% growth in Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). As part of this effort, a working women’s hostel is planned in Visakhapatnam with an estimated cost of ₹172 crore.
Inviting feedback from the public and experts, the Chief Minister said the draft policy is intended to ensure balanced population growth while strengthening the state’s long-term economic prospects.
- With inputs from agencies
