Naidu pushes for population growth and joint family values on Ugadi

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday asked the people to take a pledge to propagate Telugu culture all over the world and strongly advocated revival of joint families.

He was speaking at Ugadi celebrations organised here at Tummalapalli Kalakshetram.

Several public representatives including Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh and Endowment Minister Anam Ramnarayana Reddy were present. Telugu scholar Avadhani Madugula Nagaphanisharma read out the Ugadi Panchanga. Later Naidu distributed Ugadi awards to people recognised for their work in various professions.

Naidu announced a population management policy aimed at boosting the state's population, while emphasising the need to strengthen family systems. The Chief Minister said efforts are being made to revive the joint family system to ensure better care for elders and enhanced social stability.

"Through a population management policy, we are taking steps to increase population again we must strengthen families and values in society," Naidu said.

Under the policy, the government will offer financial incentives of Rs 25,000 to families having two or three children. According to him, a declining birth rate and aging population are emerging as a serious concern globally. The trend has begun to manifest in south India.

The CM said his perspective on family planning has now transitioned into a broader strategy for population management, stressing that larger families are vital to maintaining demographic balance. “Earlier, I said one child is ideal, two are okay and three are not advisable. Now I am reversing it, one is not enough, two are good and three are even better,” he added.

The Chief Minister warned that continued decline in population could lead to a future dominated by machines and automation, reducing human participation in the workforce.

He said that ideally a couple should have 2.1 children to maintain stability, but noted that the rate in the state has dropped to around 1.5, raising concerns over long-term demographic imbalance. Naidu noted that several countries are already facing the consequences of ageing populations, with fewer young people and increasing pressure on economic and social systems.

Reiterating his decision to release Polavaram water for irrigation and other purposes before the Godavari Pushkarams scheduled to be held next year, he said the State is also keen on inter-linking of rivers with the support of the Central Government.

Elaborating on various works now under construction at Amaravati, he promised that the new capital city of Andhra Pradesh will turn into one of the best greenfield capitals in the world. "It will be a wonderful city to live in," he remarked.

Referring to the delay in completion of Polavaram project, he blamed the erstwhile YSRCP Government for not taking up works seriously. He said compensation to the project affected people was also handed over only by the coalition government. The third tranche of compensation to Polavaram project affected people totalling Rs.226 crore was handed over on Wednesday.