On October 20, 2024, Andhra Pradesh chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said he would introduce a Bill for local body elections to have two or more children per candidate. This move is supposed to address the rising number of old people in the state and declining fertility rates. The government used to have a two-child restriction barring anyone with more than two children from holding office.
Birth of Two-Child Policy in AP: A Historical Context
- Launched in 1994 to curtail population rise, by preventing people with more than two children from contesting local body elections.
- Affected access to government jobs and benefits in some states
- Criticized for its implications in meaning democratic representation.
Current Demographic Concerns
- Fertility rate examines the average number of children a woman will have — It has dropped to 1.5, lower than the national level and projected as dangerous for national sustainability
- Ageing crisis is possible by 2047 with trends as they are.
Impact of Youth Migration
- High emigration due to the attraction of more developed urban centres and overseas, leading to worsening demographic aspects.
- Migrants might create a disbalance in age structure.
Global Comparisons
- A few comparisons between Andhra Pradesh and countries like Japan, China and Europe.
Legislative Changes Proposed
- Only those with two or more children will be allowed to contest local body polls.
- Stress greater births are a national duty.
Workinghistorical perspectives on population control
- The game plan for retaining a resilient, future-ready young population.
Month: Current Affairs - November 14, 2024
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