Andhra Pradesh Shifts from Population Control to Population Care Strategy
The Andhra Pradesh government is preparing to implement a comprehensive population management policy to address future demographic challenges such as declining fertility rates and a rising elderly population. The proposed policy focuses on a five-pillar strategy aimed at strengthening maternity support, empowering women, improving elderly welfare, enhancing skill development and expanding digital health systems.
Officials stated that the state is gradually shifting its approach from traditional population control measures to a broader population care model that focuses on sustainable demographic balance and social wellbeing.
Declining Fertility Rate Raises Concerns
According to demographic data, Andhra Pradesh has witnessed a steady decline in its Total Fertility Rate (TFR) over the past three decades. The TFR dropped from 3.0 in 1992 to 2.2 in 2002 and further declined to 1.5 in 2022–23. This figure is about 28 percent lower than the replacement level of 2.1 required to maintain stable population growth.
Experts warn that if the current trend continues, the state's demographic window — the period when the working-age population is at its peak — could close by 2040.
The state also has a higher median age of 32.5 years compared to the national average of 28.4 years. Meanwhile, the share of the population aged above 60 years, currently at around 10 percent, is projected to increase to nearly 23 percent by 2047.
Another key concern is the relatively low participation of women in the workforce, which currently stands at around 31 percent compared to the national average of approximately 37 percent.
Five-Pillar Strategy for Population Management
The state government plans to address these challenges through a five-pillar framework covering maternity care, women's empowerment, elderly welfare, skill development and digital health services.
1. Matrutva – Focus on Safe Motherhood
The first pillar, Matrutva, focuses on promoting safe motherhood and informed family planning decisions.
- Reduce dependence on sterilization procedures from 70 percent to below 50 percent.
- Provide IVF assistance through government hospitals.
- Reduce the caesarean section rate from 67.5 percent to below 40 percent.
- Bring down teenage pregnancy rates from 8.8 percent to below 3 percent.
2. Shakti – Women Empowerment
The second pillar, Shakti, focuses on increasing women's participation in economic activities and strengthening workplace support systems.
- Increase women's workforce participation.
- Establish workplace childcare facilities and creches.
- Develop hostels for working women.
- Introduce shared parental leave policies.
Officials estimate that improving women's participation in the workforce could potentially increase the state's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) by up to 15 percent.
3. Kshema – Welfare of Elderly Citizens
The third pillar, Kshema, focuses on improving healthcare and livelihood opportunities for elderly citizens.
- Establish geriatric wards in district hospitals.
- Set up specialized elderly health clinics at PHC and CHC levels.
- Create a “Silver Skills Registry” to provide employment opportunities for 50,000 senior citizens.
- Introduce a ₹50,000 wellness leave benefit for retiring employees.
4. Naipunyam – Skill Development
The fourth pillar, Naipunyam, aims to strengthen skill development programs to meet the demands of emerging industries and investments.
- Align workforce training with requirements of 610 investment MoUs worth approximately ₹13 lakh crore.
- Achieve a 75 percent skill completion rate and 80 percent placement rate.
- Train 5,000 childcare caretakers annually.
- Train 5,000 elderly care assistants every year.
5. Sanjeevani – Digital Public Health System
The fifth pillar, Sanjeevani, focuses on building a digital public health system across the state.
A pilot project is currently underway in Kuppam where digital health services already cover a population of around 3.01 lakh people and integrate 106 healthcare centers.
- Achieve 100 percent screening for non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
- Expand digital health coverage to the entire state population of about 5.2 crore people by 2026.
Incentives for Families
The government is also considering a family support initiative under the Poshan–Shiksha–Suraksha Programme aimed at improving maternal and child welfare.
- ₹25,000 incentive starting from the second child.
- Nutrition support programs to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates.
- Free education for children up to the age of 18.
- Family health insurance coverage.
- IVF treatment subsidies in government hospitals.
Officials believe the new population care policy could help the state maintain demographic balance, improve social welfare and strengthen long-term economic growth.
