Andhra CM Naidu offers Rs 30k for 3rd child, Rs 40k for 4th
Andhra CM Naidu offers Rs 30k for 3rd child, Rs 40k for 4th
Andhra Pradesh unveils cash incentives to boost birth rates, promising Rs 30,000 for a third child and Rs 40,000 for a fourth as the state addresses a declining population and aging demographics.
Narasannapeta in Srikakulam district was the setting as Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced a new cash incentive scheme aimed at encouraging larger families. He declared that ₹30,000 would be provided immediately after the birth of a third child and ₹40,000 for a fourth child, with further details to be shared within a month. The plan forms part of an effort to reverse the state’s declining population trend and to sustain a replacement-level fertility rate of 2.1.
Naidu acknowledged that some couples have opted for smaller families in recent years as incomes rise, while others delay births waiting for the right conditions. He argued that population stability is essential to economic vitality and warned against the ageing demographics seen in several other countries, which can hamper growth and development. He reiterated his stance that children should be viewed as assets rather than burdens and emphasized that the proposed incentives are a step toward societal participation in shaping the state’s future.
The policy night follows earlier proposals to offer ₹25,000 for a second child, but authorities later clarified that incentives would extend to third children and beyond. Naidu, speaking at a SwarnaAndhra–SwachAndhra cleanliness programme, said the government would outline the full framework in the coming weeks and that the objective is to balance population dynamics with the state’s long-term economic planning. While the announcement centers on financial support, its success will depend on how the incentives are administered and whether additional measures—such as healthcare, childcare, and education access—are integrated to support families through upbringing.
By linking population growth to a financial incentive, the government signals a shift from earlier population-control rhetoric to a strategy focused on sustainable demographics. The move places Narasannapeta and the wider state in the national spotlight as policymakers grapple with how best to address aging trends while maintaining economic momentum.
