Visakhapatnam: Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu Saturday announced that the state govt would give incentives to families that go for a third and fourth child, calling the declining population growth worrisome. He said the govt would give Rs 30,000 for a family having a third child and Rs 40,000 for the fourth child.Naidu has been advocating large families in AP, where the total fertility rate has been declining. He had earlier announced a series of economic measures that included an incentive of Rs 25,000 for the second child.AP has been at the forefront of family planning for decades, and now, is perhaps the only state that has been advocating large families through financial incentives to its population. The latest incentives come against the backdrop of the proposed delimitation exercise to be taken up across the country.As per latest figures, the state’s total fertility rate (TFR) has dropped to an all-time low of 1.5, significantly below the population replacement-level target of 2.1. If the current trends continue, nearly 23% of the population in AP could be above 60 years of age by 2047. The national TFR average is 2.1.Naidu said times have changed since govts encouraged family planning and that children were the real wealth today. “The govt considers them a vital economic resource and national asset. In the coming days, we also plan to enhance the financial assistance under the Talliki Vandanam from Rs 15,000 annually to mothers or guardians for each school going child from class 1 to 12,” he said.The mean average age in AP is 32.5 as against India’s average of 28.4 years. Female workforce participation in the state is 31 against the national average of 37.The CM had earlier announced free education for the third child up to 18 years of age. He has also announced opening of fertility clinics, among other measures, to boost population growth in the state.
