The government feels the state is ageing faster than the rest of the country and faces long-term economic and social risks due to a sharp decline in fertility rates.
VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh government on Wednesday announced a major policy shift from population control to population sustainability – under which incentives would be given to families for every second and subsequent births.
The government feels the state is ageing faster than the rest of the country and faces long-term economic and social risks due to a sharp decline in fertility rates.
Presenting the third sutra under Padi Sutralu as part of the Swarna Andhra Vision 2047 at the fifth collectors’ conference here, health secretary Saurabh Gaur explained the details of a comprehensive framework for demographic stability and human resource development.
Chief minister Chandrababu Naidu stressed that the changing demographic realities demanded an urgent reorientation of the state’s policies. He said the government would introduce an incentive to families from their second child onwards.
This, he said, would be an encouragement for them to arrest the fertility decline and avoid a demographic collapse.
Naidu also raised his concern over food adulteration and injection of growth promoters in the poultry farms. He warned that the fatty liver disease was the result, and this has emerged as a major health issue. He called for strict action to ensure use of safe and unadulterated food.
Data presented at the collectors’ meet showed that Andhra Pradesh has a median age of 32.5 years, significantly higher than the national average of 28.4 years. The state’s total fertility rate has fallen to 1.5, well below the replacement level of 2.1, placing it on a path similar to ageing developed economies.
Officials cautioned that the demographic window would remain favourable only until 2040, after which the dependency ratio will tilt heavily towards the elderly.
In a pioneering public sector initiative, the state would establish Fertility Colleges as centres of excellence for reproductive medicine. These institutions would train specialists and provide state-supported infertility and IVF services, thereby addressing a key constraint to sustainable population growth.
The framework rests on five pillars: a supportive fertility ecosystem; preventive healthcare through the Sanchara Chikitsa model; lifelong skilling via a skill passport system starting from Class 6; incentivising women’s workforce participation through safe mobility and mandatory crèches; and promoting active ageing through the elderly clubs at the mandal level.
Highlighting the economic potential of gender inclusion, Gaur said closing the female workforce participation gap from 31 per cent to match the male rate of 59 per cent could raise the state’s GSDP by 15 per cent. Women-friendly transport and workplace crèches would be prioritised to reduce career disruptions due to motherhood.
The state has set ambitious health targets, including reducing maternal mortality ratio from 30 to below 5 and infant mortality rate from around 17 to below 2.The Sanjeevani digital platform would track high-risk pregnancies and chronic diseases for seamless care.
