₹25,000 incentive for third child, parental leave for mothers, fathers in AP

Visakhapatnam: A strong and youthful population is the foundation of long-term prosperity. Andhra Pradesh will introduce India's first-of-its-kind Population Management Policy, shifting the focus from population control to population care, AP Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu said. Referring to the policy he announced in the Assembly on Thursday the Chief Minister said with fertility rate declining sharply, they must act now to secure the demographic future.

He said their policy will support families through incentives including ₹25,000 for the third child, parental leave for mothers and fathers, and the Poshan'Shiksha'Suraksha package to ensure nutrition, education and protection for every child.

Naidu said they are strengthening the ecosystem that enables families to thrive through working women hostels, childcare centres, pink toilets, and improved maternal care through Matrutva centres of excellence. Through their five-pillar life-cycle framework: Matrutva, Shakti, Naipunyam, Kshema and Sanjeevani, they will ensure support from safe motherhood to skilling, healthy ageing and integrated public health delivery for every citizen, the Chief Minister

Naidu asserted that their goal was clear abd a healthy, skilled and confident population that will power Andhra Pradesh's growth for decades to come.

Earlier, announcing on the proposal to introduce population management policy in the Assembly, the Chief Minister stated that the state government was making efforts to finalise the policy by month end and introduce the Population management policy from April 1.
Expressing serious concern over falling total fertility rate in Andhra Pradesh from 3.0 in 1993 to 1.5 at present, the Chief Minister said the fall in fertility rate pose threat to economic growth with fall in number of young working people and the state will face ageing problem like in Japan, South Korea and Italy.
The Chief Minister said the state government giving top priority for population care from now onwards and the draft policy was placed in the Assembly. He sought discussion on this issue among public. He said as per 2023 reports 6.70 lakh births were reported per year. If the same situation continues by 2047 the ratio of aged people will be increased upto 23 per cent. He said women work force participation stands at 31 per cent and it should be increased to 59 per cent to achieve 15 per cent GSDP.
Under the population management policy, the government planning to introduce five stage life cycle system including Matrutva, Sakthi, Naipunyam, Kshema and Sanjeevani and the government will provide facilities to women by setting Matrutva centre of excellence to render IVF services. The caesarian operations will be discouraged, he said.
The Chief Minister said child care centres will be set up for every 50 children and pink toilets will be provided. He said she cabs will be introduced for the protection of women. A working women hostel will be set up in Visakhapatnam at a cost of Rs 172 crore. To encourage more number of births, the government planning to provide 12 months parental leave and two months paternal leave for fathers. Special clinics will be organised for two weeks in 175 primary health centres.
The Chief Minister said under population management policy special training will be provided to child care teachers. He said the government is proposing to sanction an incentive of Rs 25000 under Poshana-Siksha-Suraksha package to encourage third child birth. In addition Rs 1000 per month will be given to third child for five years and free education will be provided up to 18 years. He said the coalition government provided an opportunity to those having more than two children to contest the local body elections. The state government also provided financial assistance under Talliki Vandanam irrespective of number of children to encourage population growth, he said.