Vijayawada: Even as the country gets ready for the 16th edition of the Census next month, Andhra Pradesh govt has announced what could well be India’s first population management policy with myriad incentives to encourage couples to bear more children. This includes a plan to pay Rs 25,000 to couples that give birth to their third child.Announcing the draft policy on the floor of the state Assembly on Thursday, chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu said the state govt would try to finalise the policy by March-end for its introduction from April 1. Other incentives include free education for the third child up to the age of 18 years, IVF services at subsidised rates, sanction of special leaves for couples giving birth to a third child, construction of working women hostels and child care centres.With the Census likely to be followed by delimitation of Lok Sabha seats, the southern states have raised concerns over their falling fertility rates leading to a drop in their representation in Parliament. While Andhra Pradesh’s total fertility rate (TFR) has been pegged at 1.4, Telangana is at 1.6. Kerala and Karnataka both have a TFR of 1.7, and Tamil Nadu is at 1.82, according to the National Family Health Survey-5. In comparison, India’s TFR is between 1.9 and 2.Among other incentives, Andhra Pradesh’s draft policy also proposes 12 months of maternity leave at the birth of the couple’s third child or subsequent children, including two months of paternity leave for fathers. Govt employees with three children approaching retirement will be given 15 days of wellness leave, along with a health fund of Rs 50,000. The state will also launch an awareness campaign, titled ‘Equal Responsibility of Parents’, to promote shared family responsibilities.Explaining the reasons for the new policy, Naidu said the total fertility rate in Andhra Pradesh came down from 3.0 in 1993 to 1.4. “The fall in fertility rate poses a threat to economic growth with a fall in the number of young working people and the state will face ageing problems like in Japan, South Korea and Italy,” he said. According to 2023 estimates, 6.7 lakh births were recorded annually in the state. At this rate, nearly 23% of the population in Andhra Pradesh could be elderly by 2047, Naidu added.The CM said under population management policy, special training will be provided to child care teachers. “The Rs 25,000 will be paid under the Poshana-Siksha-Suraksha package to encourage a third child birth. In addition Rs 1,000 per month will be given to the third child,” he said. The govt is already providing financial assistance under the Talliki Vandanam scheme (Rs 15,000 per child to women whose children are in school) irrespective of the number of children to encourage population growth.Naidu said the woman workforce participation in AP stands at 31% and it should be increased to 59% to achieve 15% GSDP. He said the state was witnessing a steady decline in fertility rates, making it necessary for the govt to move beyond family planning and adopt a comprehensive population management strategy. The policy draft was placed before the assembly and will be open for public discussion for one month before finalisation.Placing women at the centre of the proposed policy, the CM said the govt plans to support them at every stage of life — from pregnancy to old age — through a five-tier lifecycle approach built on five pillars: motherhood, empowerment, welfare, skill development, and rejuvenation. “We plan to set up a centre of excellence for maternity care, and offer IVF services at subsidised rates under a public-private partnership model to address infertility issues. The govt also intends to reduce unnecessary caesarean deliveries, and bring down teenage pregnancies from the current 8.8% to under 3%,” he said.Naidu said the govt wants to make workplaces more conducive and supportive for women, apart from setting up childcare centres and pink toilets in areas where at least 50 children are present. Special ‘She Cabs’ are also being considered to enhance women’s safety during travel. In addition, the govt has proposed constructing a major working women’s hostel in Visakhapatnam at a cost of Rs 172 crore and setting up similar facilities in locations where large numbers of women employees work.
