'Have two or more children'… this slogan echoing in South politics these days!. NDA allay TDP’s supreme and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu wants everyone to make more babies. He also sets condition for future election candidates. His statement that tickets in local-body institutions are for those who have more than two children has gone viral.
Tamil Nadu CM Stalin also echoes Chandrababu's concern over declining population, particularly in South Indian states. As a DMK Chief he questions ‘why newly married couple should not have 16 children?’. As per media reports, both the CMs are planning to bring new legislation to boost young population in Andhra Pradesh as well as Tamil Nadu States. Both the CMs spark debate over population policies of India. Media highlighting about the intentions of the CMs as they are encouraging couple to have more children for the benefit of the state. Why they are promoting so much to have more children is now a hot topic in the southern media.
In the past, governments have widely campaigned on ‘One child is enough’ slogan. People are not allowed to have even two kids. There are many other reasons (social and economic) for couple for choosing 'one child' concept. Due to increased costs and other reasons, many are settling for one child. Due to changing living standards, the number of childless couple is also increasing. It is now being felt that ‘single child or no child’ concept is having a severe impact on the economy of the states and the country.
The southern states, which in the past had strictly followed the measures taken to control the population, are now expressing concern about declining of population. Population growth rate is much lower in the south than in the north. Due to this, there is an opinion that the funds coming from the Centre are getting cut. In addition to this, the calculations show that there will be a shortage of working force (manpower) in the future.
Chandrababu has been campaigning since time on this. Now, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin has added another reason... to increase the population. Stalin indurated a mass marriage program in Chennai recently, and made some interesting comments. He said that the bifurcation of Parliament segments will be done on the basis of population and there is a danger of Tamil Nadu and other southern states getting fewer seats due to less population.
Discussion began regarding Chandrababu and Stalin's remarks on population decline. Meanwhile, recent data from NABARD also indicates a significant decrease in the population growth rate in the southern states. As a result, the number of members in families is decreasing. This average number count of families is 3.7 in AP while the national average is 4.3. Karnataka State has 4.3, Telangana and Tamil Nadu 4.1, Kerala average is 3.8. But in northern states average is up to five.
As families are getting smaller, the number of people over 60 years old is also considered dangerous. It is said that even though the youth population in Telugu states and the country is good at present, the situation will change after another ten years. It is expected that if the current policies on family planning continue, it will have an effect on the working group. If the elderly population increases, more expenditure will have to be spent on welfare and health. At the same time, there is a risk of migration of human resources or industries due to lack of working group. Otherwise workers and working people should be brought from outside.
Chandrababu Naidu and MK Stalin, realizing such developments in advance, are suggesting increasing the population. They are preparing to bring special laws if necessary. We can refer the experiences of Japan and China in this contest. Incentives are being given to increase the population in countries like Japan and China, which already facing crisis due to large population of elderly people. Our governments are taking steps to ensure that such a situation does not come to us tomorrow. Care is being taken to maintain balance so that the working group does not shrink.