Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu announces cash incentives for third and fourth child

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced cash incentives of Rs 30,000 and Rs 40,000 for the birth of third and fourth children respectively to address declining population growth, while also outlining welfare, irrigation and waste-clearance initiatives in Srikakulam district

Narasannapeta (Andhra Pradesh): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday announced incentives of Rs 30,000 for the birth of a third child and Rs 40,000 for a fourth child, as part of efforts to reverse the state’s declining population trend.

Addressing a public meeting at Narasannapeta in Srikakulam district, Naidu said he had taken the decision and would announce further details within a month.

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“I have made a new decision. We will provide Rs 30,000 immediately after the birth of a third child and Rs 40,000 for a fourth child. Isn’t this the right decision?” Naidu said on the sidelines of the SwarnaAndhra SwachAndhra cleanliness programme.

Although he had once advocated population control measures, the CM said the time had now come for society to work together to increase the birth rate.

Naidu’s latest announcement follows an earlier proposal to provide a Rs 25,000 incentive for the birth of a second child.

On March 5, he informed the Assembly that the state government was considering an incentive of Rs 25,000 for couples having a second child.

However, Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav told PTI on Saturday that the government had decided to extend the incentives to families having a third child and more children.

According to Naidu, rising incomes are leading some couples to opt for a single child, while others are choosing to have a second child only if their firstborn is a girl.

As a result, he warned that the state’s population growth rate is declining and stressed the importance of maintaining the replacement-level total fertility rate (TFR) of 2.1.

He noted that a population remains stable only when the fertility rate is 2.1 children per woman.

He emphasised that declining populations and ageing societies in several countries have adversely affected their economies.

Rejecting the notion that children are a burden, Naidu argued that they are an asset and vowed to prove it.

Referring to the Talliki Vandanam welfare scheme, which provides Rs 15,000 per school-going child per annum, Naidu said he would increase the amount “if God shows mercy”.

He said the government is printing tamper-proof pattadar passbooks (land documents) and assured that there would be “no land disputes” by March 2027.

The TDP supremo promised to develop Srikakulam district through infrastructure projects and the completion of irrigation works.

Giving project timelines, Naidu said the government would complete the Madduvalasa Stage-II project by January 2027, the Hiramandalam Lift Irrigation Project by April 2027, and the Thotapalli distributaries by July 2027, among others.

After the formation of the TDP-led NDA government, he said 86 lakh tonnes of legacy waste had been cleared and promised 100 per cent clearance by June.

Further, the CM urged people to follow PM Narendra Modi’s guidelines to address economic challenges arising from the US-Israel-Iran conflict.

Naidu advised people to work from home as much as possible, reduce gold purchases, explore domestic tourism, use public transport, and take similar steps to support the economy and cooperate with the government.