VIJAYAWADA: Announcing a significant shift in the State’s demographic policy, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has said his government will move from population control to population conservation and management.
Delivering the keynote address at the World Population Day celebrations at the Dr BR Ambedkar Convention Centre in Vijayawada on Saturday, Naidu said, “The new policy will focus on ensuring long-term demographic stability, economic growth and social development.”
He said, “2026 will be remembered as a landmark year in Andhra Pradesh’s history because of the transformative decisions being taken by the NDA government.”
Quoting Gurajada Apparao’s famous words “A nation is not just its soil, but its people,” he said human resources are the greatest strength of any nation, and they have become increasingly important in the present global demographic scenario.
The Chief Minister recalled that governments once focused on population control through awareness campaigns and policy measures.
Slogans encouraging smaller families and the two-child norm for contesting local body elections reflected the thinking of that period.
No economic progress without enough human resources: CM
However, changing demographic realities now demand a new approach centred around population conservation and management, he explained.
Expressing concern over declining fertility rates, Naidu said nearly 40 countries are witnessing shrinking populations, and similar trends are visible in southern Indian states, including Andhra Pradesh. He noted that Anganwadis and schools are witnessing a decline in the number of children while the elderly population continues to rise. Districts such as Visakhapatnam have already recorded very low fertility rates, making demographic management a key policy priority, he elaborated.
Naidu cautioned against the growing trend of micro-families, saying sustained economic development will become difficult without adequate human resources.
Stressing that population management is now a reality, he said development is meaningful only when there are enough people to drive and sustain it.
The Chief Minister said the government will implement the ‘Pillale Sampada’ initiative after consulting various sections of society. He described India’s family system as one of its greatest strengths, and urged people to preserve the country’s cultural and family values for future generations.
He said raising children should not be considered the responsibility of women alone, and emphasised that men must equally share parenting responsibilities. He also called for reducing unnecessary Caesarean deliveries, and stressed the importance of protecting women’s health. To support working women, the government is planning to establish childcare centres at workplaces, he said.
Highlighting the State’s welfare initiatives, the Chief Minister said the government has launched the Sanjeevani programme to strengthen public healthcare. Nutritious food is being provided to children through Anganwadis, while Rs 15,000 per child is being extended under the Talliki Vandanam scheme to support school education. He also announced that the government is planning to introduce another welfare initiative named Kshemam.
The Chief Minister said women are being encouraged to become entrepreneurs, while the P4 initiative is helping improve the living standards of poor families. Industrial projects are being established across different regions to ensure balanced development, and reduce economic disparities.
Calling upon young people to take advantage of opportunities in Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies, he said continuous skill development is essential to create a globally competitive workforce. He reiterated the government’s vision of increasing Andhra Pradesh’s per capita income to Rs 55 lakh by 2047, adding that the goal of Swarna Andhra could be achieved by 2040 if the State maintains an annual growth rate of around 15%. “People are the greatest wealth of a nation. Development is meaningful only when there is a healthy and productive population,” he observed.
Naidu appealed to citizens to embrace the message of “Pillale Sampada - Pedda Kutumbame Srirama Raksha” (Children are Wealth - A Large Family is a Blessing) and support the government’s efforts to build a prosperous, balanced and future-ready Andhra Pradesh through responsible population management, stronger families, quality education, better healthcare and sustained economic growth.
