AP Plans Cash Incentives For Third, Fourth Child

– KURNOOL: The Andhra Pradesh government plans to offer cash incentives and nutritional support to families having third and fourth children as part of efforts to address the state’s declining fertility rate.

The proposal, which was discussed at the collectors’ conference held in Amaravati on May 7 and 8, will be submitted for final approval after completion of a three-month public participation and awareness programme.

According to the proposal, a one-time payment of Rs 30,000 will be given to mothers who give birth to their third child, and Rs 40,000 will be given to mothers who give birth to their fourth child. The amount will be transferred directly to the mother’s bank account along with the NTR Baby Kit at the time of birth.

The offer also includes nutritional support in the form of millet. Families will be given 3 kg of millet every month after the birth of the third child, and 6 kg of millet per month after the birth of the fourth child.

Monthly gram sabhas will be held in May, June and July 2026 to collect public feedback on the proposed incentive structure, officials said. After incorporating the feedback, the proposal will be presented to the Council of Ministers for final approval.

If approved, the implementation of the plan is expected to begin on August 15, 2026.

Officials have also been instructed to conduct awareness campaigns among eligible couples, while health and other departmental staff will conduct field visits by August to counsel families on the rising birth rates.

Under the proposed scheme, children born as third or fourth children will also be enrolled in Anganwadi centers and will be covered under welfare programmes, including the “Thalli Ki Vandanam” programme.

Fertility rates have fallen not only in Andhra Pradesh but also in many other states, making proactive intervention necessary to avoid long-term demographic and economic challenges, a senior official from the Family Welfare Department said.

Officials stated that the fertility rate in the state has fallen to around 1.5 children per couple, and this figure is estimated to drop further to 1.2 by 2040. The proportion of the working-age population is expected to decrease from 62.9 percent to 57 percent, raising concerns about future economic productivity.

According to official data, around 48.7 per cent of couples in the state prefer only one child, while around 11.5 lakh couples face problems related to childlessness. The government is also exploring public-private partnership models to provide in vitro fertilization treatment to such couples.

However, some segments of the public have expressed concerns about the proposal. G. Gangabhavani from Nandalur in Kadapa district said rising education costs and financial pressures have made it difficult to raise even one child.

In addition to encouraging higher birth rates, the government also plans to reduce family planning operations and reduce the number of Caesarean sections in private hospitals.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu instructed the district collectors to take steps to prevent teenage pregnancies and intensify awareness campaigns at the grassroots level.