Andhra to unveil policy to tackle declining fertility, says CM Naidu
Amaravati (PTI): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has said that the state government will soon unveil a new policy framework to address declining fertility rates and demographic imbalance.
Speaking at the Amaravati Summit on World Population Day on Friday, Naidu emphasised that population should be treated as the state's greatest economic strength, not a burden.
"Population is the nation's strongest economic asset. A robust policy on population growth will be introduced soon," said Naidu, addressing the summit.
He observed that rising expenses are deterring young couples from having children, while Parliament seats may increase in the future, southern states could see reduced representation.
The CM recalled his earlier efforts promoting family planning and noted that today's demographic trends call for a shift in focus from control to management of population growth.
"Before 2004, as CM, I incentivised family planning. We even brought a law disqualifying those with more than two children from contesting local body elections," said Naidu.
He further said that today, there's a need to amend the law to allow those with more than two children to contest, adding that a nation is not just about its land, regions, towns, or borders, it is about its people.
Naidu said that while developed nations struggle with aging populations, India's youth advantage remains intact, though not guaranteed unless corrective policies are adopted quickly.
"Our youth population is shrinking while elderly numbers grow. To avoid a human resource crisis, we must encourage larger families," said Naidu, addressing the summit.
Naidu launched a survey seeking public input on population policy, declaring, "Your voice is our policy guide," and stressing the importance of aligning welfare with people's preferences.
He expressed concern that while the global population is increasing, birth rates are declining, and the youth population is shrinking while the elderly population is increasing.
Naidu noted that nations like Japan, Hungary, and Singapore now offer cash, tax exemptions and housing benefits to families with more children.
He pointed out that the southern state's fertility rate stands at 1.7, well below the replacement rate of 2.1, underscoring the urgency of reversing this trend.
Naidu also cited concerns over the fading of joint family systems, rising cost of living, and the changing outlook of youth, saying such factors must shape future family-centric policies.
Mentioning his recent visit to Kuppam, he shared an anecdote of a three-generation household as a model for societal stability and economic resilience.
Stressing gender equality, he said TDP governments have historically empowered women by giving from the gas cylinder scheme to property rights and representation in colleges and transport services.
Naidu maintained that India's population advantage will hold only until 2047, urging policymakers to treat human capital as a long-term resource and not a short-term liability.
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41 lakh illicit liquor seized, 1.84 lakh arrested in major drive: K'taka Minister tells Assembly
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): The Karnataka Excise Department has conducted a statewide crackdown on illegal liquor trade over the last two years, resulting in arrests and seizures of alcohol, Karnataka Excise Minister R B Timmapur said on Tuesday.
As many as 1,09,017 people were arrested, and seizures included 13.66 lakh litres of liquor and 27.19 lakh litres of beer, he said in a written reply to a starred question by Harihar BJP MLA B P Harish in the Karnataka Assembly.
The Minister said the enforcement drive covered the financial year 2023–24, 2024–25 up to June, and 2025–26 from July to October, targeting unauthorised liquor manufacture, storage, sale and transportation across the State.
"During this period, statewide enforcement drives resulted in a total of 1,84,570 raids against illegal liquor sales,” Timmapur said.
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He noted that 9,179 non-bailable cases and 91,968 bailable and compoundable cases under Section 15(A) of the Karnataka Excise Act, 1965, were registered during the same period.
According to him, there have been no reports indicating that students have become addicted to alcohol due to illegal liquor sales.
The sale of alcohol to minors is strictly prohibited under the Karnataka Excise Act, 1965, and the department has issued periodic instructions to initiate legal action against violators, with strict enforcement and investigation measures in place, the Minister said.
Excise officials are carrying out regular road and night patrols, collecting intelligence, monitoring habitual offenders and conducting raids to identify illicit distillation units, unauthorised liquor outlets and spurious liquor manufacturing centres, he said, adding the department is also enforcing the law to prevent the production, storage, sale and transport of spurious, non-duty-paid and unauthorised liquor.
Regular patrols are being conducted on national and state highways, with suspicious vehicles being subjected to checks.
At the district level, standing committee meetings are held under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioners, and joint operations are carried out with the police and forest departments to curb excise-related offences.
The department is also conducting awareness programmes through Gram Sabhas and in schools and colleges to educate the public and students about the physical, mental and social health hazards associated with alcohol addiction and substance abuse, Timmapur added.
