Sun Mar 09 13:25:06 UTC 2025: ## Andhra Pradesh TDP MP Offers Cash and Cows to Boost Birth Rate
**Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh –** In a move sparking widespread debate, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MP Kalisetti Appala Naidu has announced he will personally pay ₹50,000 to any woman in his constituency who gives birth to a third child, plus a cow if the child is a boy. This comes on the heels of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s recent advocacy for incentives to increase the birth rate in the state, expressing concern over South India’s aging population.
Naidu’s announcement, made during an International Women’s Day event on Saturday, is rapidly gaining traction on social media. TDP leaders are praising the initiative, claiming it is being lauded by women as “revolutionary.” Chief Minister Naidu himself has publicly commended the MP for his offer.
The MP’s incentive program is funded from his own salary. The Chief Minister has also announced an expansion of maternity leave benefits for all women employees, regardless of the number of children they have, previously limited to mothers with two children or fewer. This policy change, he stated on X (formerly Twitter), aims to encourage family growth and address population imbalance.
Chief Minister Naidu’s recent shift towards promoting population growth follows earlier support for family planning initiatives. He now argues that a larger population will give India a significant demographic advantage, crucial for future economic growth and global competitiveness. His statements highlight a changing perspective on population control within the TDP. The MP’s controversial offer is likely to fuel ongoing discussions about population policies and women’s roles in Andhra Pradesh.
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