New Delhi [India], March 6 (ANI): Congress MP Manickam Tagore on Friday raised considerations over the proposed inhabitants coverage introduced by Andhra Pradesh authorities, which suggests offering an incentive of Rs 25,000 to households for having a 3rd baby or extra.
In a put up on X, Tagore questioned the coverage’s rationale, stressing that the precedence for governments immediately needs to be constructing a talented workforce able to adapting to a quickly altering international economic system pushed by applied sciences equivalent to Artificial Intelligence, robotics and automation.
Referring to the draft coverage, Tagore stated that whereas the Andhra Pradesh authorities has proposed monetary incentives to encourage bigger households, the transfer raises critical considerations about coverage path at a time when international locations internationally are making ready for a future the place many conventional jobs could disappear on account of technological developments.
‘The Andhra Pradesh authorities led by N Chandrababu Naidu has unveiled a draft inhabitants coverage providing 25,000 for a 3rd baby and different incentives for bigger households. This raises a critical and troubling query. At a time when Artificial Intelligence, robotics and automation are quickly reworking the worldwide economic system, international locations are making ready for a future the place many conventional jobs could disappear. The actual problem earlier than governments immediately is to create expert residents who can survive and thrive on this new economic system,’ Tagore wrote on ‘X’.
He argued that India already has the world’s largest inhabitants and is predicted to stay among the many most populous international locations for many years. According to him, the nation’s actual problem shouldn’t be inhabitants dimension however the lack of high quality schooling, abilities, employment and alternatives for hundreds of thousands of younger folks getting into the workforce yearly.
Tagore additional stated that as an alternative of specializing in strengthening human capital via higher schooling, healthcare and job creation, encouraging inhabitants development via financial incentives displays short-term political considering slightly than forward-looking governance.
‘India is already probably the most populous nation on this planet, and can stay one of many largest populations for the following 50 years. Our drawback shouldn’t be a scarcity of individuals. Our drawback is the shortage of high quality schooling, abilities, jobs, and alternatives for the hundreds of thousands of younger Indians getting into the workforce yearly. Instead of specializing in human capital, schooling, healthcare and job creation, this coverage encourages inhabitants development with money incentives. That shouldn’t be forward-looking governance — it’s short-sighted politics,’ the ‘X’ put up stated.
He additionally criticised what he described as an ideological narrative that hyperlinks inhabitants development with political or demographic concerns. Tagore warned that when public coverage begins to observe ideological motivations as an alternative of financial realities, it dangers pushing society within the flawed path. Drawing comparisons with international locations equivalent to Japan and South Korea, he famous that these nations promote larger beginning charges as a result of they’re dealing with inhabitants decline and quickly ageing societies. India, he stated, faces the alternative problem, guaranteeing jobs, schooling and dignity for its current inhabitants.
‘More importantly, this considering dangerously echoes the narrative lengthy promoted by Sanghi’s — the concept inhabitants numbers have to be elevated for political or demographic causes. When public coverage begins to observe ideological scripts as an alternative of financial realities, it dangers pushing society within the flawed path. Countries like Japan or South Korea encourage larger beginning charges as a result of they face inhabitants collapse and quickly growing older societies. India faces the alternative problem — we should present jobs, schooling and dignity to our current inhabitants first,’ Tagore stated.
Tagore added that the important thing challenge for India within the age of Artificial Intelligence shouldn’t be how many individuals the nation has, however what number of educated, expert and productive residents it may possibly create. Without satisfactory alternatives, he cautioned, inhabitants development dangers turning a demographic dividend right into a demographic burden, and public coverage should deal with making ready India for the way forward for work slightly than treating inhabitants development as a political goal.
‘The actual query shouldn’t be how many individuals India may have, however what number of educated, expert and productive residents we are able to create within the age of AI. Population with out alternative shouldn’t be a demographic dividend. It turns into a demographic burden. Public coverage should put together India for the way forward for work, not observe an ideological mannequin that treats inhabitants development as a political mission,’ the ‘X’ put up stated.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had earlier stated that the state authorities is contemplating a brand new inhabitants administration coverage that features monetary incentives to encourage households to have extra kids, asserting a proposed Rs 25,000 help on the time of supply for folks who’ve a second or third baby.
Speaking within the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly, CM Naidu offered the state’s proposed inhabitants administration coverage. He stated that at present about 58 per cent of households have just one baby, round 2.17 lakh households have two kids, and practically 62 lakh households have three or extra kids. He additionally famous that round three lakh households have just one baby as an alternative of two, whereas one other three lakh households have greater than two kids.
To tackle this, the federal government is proposing monetary incentives for childbirth. Under the plan, dad and mom who’ve a dad and mom who’ve a second baby or extra will obtain Rs 25,000 on the time of supply.
The Chief Minister defined that the state’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is at present 1.5, whereas the perfect degree needs to be 2.1 to take care of demographic stability. He stated that as economies develop, beginning charges have a tendency to say no, which may create workforce shortages and long-term financial challenges. (ANI)