People are Our Strength Population is our strongest economic resource

Best policies being implemented for population management

Child care centers to be set up in government offices

World increasingly reliant on countries with large populations

Rising expenses and lack of income pose challenges to growth

Earlier, I promoted family planning but now, I stress the need for population management

We must carry forward Gurajada’s spirit, "A nation is made of its people”

To avoid a human resource crisis in the future, the fertility rate in the state must rise

- Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu at the Amaravati Summit on World Population Day

Amaravati, July: Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu stated that population is the nation's strongest economic asset. He announced that a robust policy on population growth will be introduced soon. Recalling the words of Gurajada Apparao, “A nation is made of its people, not just its soil,” he urged everyone to move forward with this spirit. The Chief Minister was the chief guest at the first Amaravati Summit on World Population Day held at the State Secretariat. On this occasion, he launched a survey designed around the concept, ‘Population management starts with every family. Your opinion is our policy guide.’ He later addressed the gathering.

Fertility Rate Must Rise

The Chief Minister said that while in the past the state government had launched a movement for population control in united Andhra Pradesh, now the need of the hour is population management. He emphasized that India’s ability to compete with developed nations is because of its population. “Once, population was seen as a major problem. Before 2004, as CM, I incentivized family planning. We even brought a law disqualifying those with more than two children from contesting local body elections. But today, there’s a need to amend the law to allow those with more than two children to contest. A nation is not just about its land, regions, towns, or borders, it is about its people,” the CM said.

Our Strength is Our Human Capital

CM Chandrababu Naidu recalled that the UN declared July 11 as World Population Day after the global population reached 5 billion in 1989. “Today, 1.8 billion people globally are aged between 10 and 24. Earlier, countries with large populations were looked down upon. Now, even developed nations are compelled to look to populous countries. Population is not a burden, it’s our greatest asset. From a time when people questioned whether development was possible in such a populous country, we have turned that population into our advantage. With a population of 1.4 billion, India has even surpassed China,” he stated.

Younger Age Group Declining

He expressed concern that while global population is increasing, birth rates are declining, and the youth population is shrinking while the elderly population is increasing. “Wherever aging becomes an issue, growth stagnates. Even in developed countries, fertility rates are falling. The U.S. has 1.62, UK 1.54, Hungary 1.50, France 1.49, Russia 1.47, Germany 1.46, Canada 1.33, Japan 1.23, China 1.02, and Singapore 0.96. In rich nations, low birth rates are becoming the norm. When the rate falls below 2.1, the population starts declining. In India, Bihar is at 3.0, Meghalaya 2.9, UP 2.4, Jharkhand 2.3, Manipur 2.2, Tamil Nadu 1.8, Telangana 1.8, Kerala 1.8, Karnataka 1.7, and Andhra Pradesh 1.7. To maintain population equilibrium, a 2.1 rate is essential,” the CM explained.

Countries Offering Incentives for Having Children

The Chief Minister highlighted how some countries are offering incentives to encourage childbirth. He read out examples from various nations. “In Japan, child care services are provided until the child starts school, and financial or free educational assistance is offered. Families with more children receive housing support and low-rent homes. South Korea provides monthly cash benefits, support for weddings, childbirth, and IVF. In Singapore, under the Baby Bonus Scheme, cash is given for every newborn, and the government matches savings in children’s accounts. In Russia, mothers of second children receive free healthcare under maternity benefits. Hungary exempts mothers with four or more children from income tax for life. In China, families with more than two children receive financial assistance of up to ₹12 lakh,” the CM said, listing several other international incentives.

Indians at the Forefront

He also said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country is witnessing stable governance and development. He pointed out that the 1991 economic reforms led to the 1995 tech revolution, with Indians leading globally in IT. “Out of 125 billionaires in the U.S. from 43 countries, 10 are Indians. Indians now have the highest per capita income among global diaspora. While population will be an advantage till 2047, adopting timely solutions will ensure we emerge victorious. India ranks 4th globally in growth rate, and only when our public policies eliminate inequality and improve living standards, can we achieve true sustainability,” he stated.

Rising Costs Discouraging Childbirth

The Chief Minister also expressed concern that declining population growth would hamper economic growth. He revealed that a poll conducted at the summit showed 67.41% preferred two children, 12.34% preferred only one, and 19.88% preferred three children. He said young people today are unwilling to have children, and many couples are opting not to have any. “The rising cost of living is discouraging people from having children,” he observed.

Joint Families Are Disappearing

He noted that joint families were once common but are now disappearing. “Earlier, we provided 5 kg rice per person in a household. A family of five received 25 kg. We didn’t give rice beyond that. But now, we’re thinking of giving more than 50 kg if there are ten members in a family. There’s growing concern about the declining population in South India. While Parliament seats may increase in the future, southern states could see reduced representation,” he said.

We Recognized Women’s Struggles

“I am pro-women,” said CM Chandrababu Naidu, adding that many men still expect women to handle all household responsibilities, which is unfair. “Men and women are equal, and women are working just as hard as men. In the software sector, women often earn more than their husbands. TDP recognized women’s strength. NTR gave them equal property rights and set up a women’s university. I started DWCRA and MEPMA groups to empower women economically. Watching my mother cook on firewood, I decided no woman should face that hardship again. Under the Deepam scheme, we provided free gas cylinders, a first in the country. We also gave 33% reservation for women in colleges and recruited them as RTC conductors,” he recalled.

Direct Interaction with Attendees

The Chief Minister also interacted with attendees at the first Amaravati summit on World Population Day. He asked for their opinions on population management. Some shared their views and posed questions. He said, “During my recent visit to Kuppam, I met a joint family of three generations living together, sharing both responsibilities and wealth. Governments are giving less support to larger families. Going forward, we will focus not on population control but population management. We’ll closely monitor growth and offer incentives to those with more children. Children are wealth to a home. We used to celebrate the birth of children. NTR even made a film called Taatamma Kala, which highlighted how more children meant more happiness. The gift of childbirth is a divine blessing for women,” he added.

This event was attended by Dr. Mahendra Dev, Chairman, PM’s Economic Advisory Council, MLA Tenali Shravan Kumar, Dr. Suhani Jalota, Founder, Myna Mahila Foundation, public health specialist M. Prakashaamma, Professor Sanjay Kumar, and several senior officials from various departments.