Have More Children, They Are Our Wealth, Says Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu

<p>Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has once again called on people to have more children, warning that a declining population could create serious challenges for the country and the state in the years ahead.</p>
<p>Speaking at a rally in Konaseema on Wednesday, Naidu said prevailing attitudes toward population growth needed to change as birth rates continue to fall. "People think having children is difficult, but children are our wealth," he said, urging families not to view raising children as a burden.</p>
<p>Andhra Pradesh's total fertility rate has fallen to around 1.5, well below the replacement level of 2.1, making the state's demographic situation among the more acute in the country.</p>
<p>Naidu, whose Telugu Desam Party is part of the BJP-led NDA alliance, openly acknowledged that he had once championed population control. "In the past, I myself went to control the population when it was increasing. Today, the population is completely decreasing, and many countries have suffered losses. Now I am the one telling you that we need to increase the population," he said.</p>
<p>He said his shift in position was a direct response to the demographic changes taking place in India and several other countries. "Generally, if you look at history, if one person says something, another person says something else. But changing my opinion and telling you this," Naidu said, explaining why he now takes a different view.</p>
<p>The Chief Minister warned that the trend of people choosing to have fewer children, or no children at all, carried long-term consequences. "Nowadays, many people are stopping having children. If there are no children, we will have to serve machines," he said.</p>
<p>Naidu has previously backed financial incentives to encourage larger families. In May, the Andhra Pradesh government announced it would provide Rs 30,000 for a third child and Rs 40,000 for a fourth child.</p>
<p>The state's ageing profile has also drawn attention from other officials. In March, Minister for Medical and Health and Family Welfare Satya Kumar Yadav pointed out that Andhra Pradesh is ageing faster than the national average. The state's median age stands at 32.5 years, compared with 28 years for India as a whole.</p>
<p>Yadav cautioned that the share of children below 14 years could fall from 25 per cent in 2011 to 15 per cent by 2036. Over the same period, the proportion of people aged 60 and above is projected to nearly double from 10 per cent to 19 per cent, rising further to 23 per cent by 2047.</p>