Chandrababu Naidu proposes law to incentivise families with more children

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday said that his government is planning to bring a law that would allow only people with two or more children to contest local body elections.
The Chief Minister also urged families to consider having more children, expressing concerns over the state’s ageing population and its long-term impact on the country’s demographic balance.
“The government is planning to bring in legislation to make only those with more than two children eligible to contest local body elections,” Naidu said on Saturday after restarting construction work at Amaravati, which had been stopped by the previous government.
The move, he said, is aimed at encouraging families to have more children and ensuring a younger, more vibrant population in the years to come.
The Chief Minister warned of the growing signs of an ageing crisis in South India, particularly in Andhra Pradesh, noting that while India retains a demographic edge until 2047, the southern parts of the country were already beginning to see the effects of an ageing population.
“Countries like Japan, China, and several European nations are facing the consequences of ageing populations, where a significant share of the population is elderly,” Naidu said.
Furthermore, he pointed out the effect of youth migration, as many people are moving to urban areas or abroad in search of better opportunities, leaving rural villages with elderly residents.
“In numerous villages across Andhra Pradesh and the country, the younger generation has relocated to cities, leaving only elderly people behind,” Naidu observed.
Naidu also cited the falling fertility rates in the southern state, which have dropped to 1.6 — well below the national average of 2.1. He expressed concern over the implications of this decline, warning that if the trend continues, Andhra Pradesh could face a severe ageing issue by 2047. “This is not a desirable future, and we must act now,” he cautioned.