Now Reading: TN TFR drops to 1.4, govt may consider baby incentives
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TN TFR drops to 1.4, govt may consider baby incentives
Tamil Nadu Health Minister K G Arunraj said the state's Total Fertility Rate has fallen to 1.4, well below the replacement level of 2.1, and the government may consider following Andhra Pradesh…
The Story in Brief
Tamil Nadu Health Minister K G Arunraj said the state's Total Fertility Rate has fallen to 1.4, well below the replacement level of 2.1, and the government may consider following Andhra Pradesh in offering incentives for couples to have more children. Addressing a medical workshop on Sunday, Arunraj noted that nearly 16 per cent of the state's population is aged 60 and above, calling the demographic shift a major public health challenge.
The minister pointed to Andhra Pradesh's reported scheme of incentives for a third child as a possible model. Deliveries in government hospitals have declined from 65.8 per cent in 2017-18 to 51 per cent now, which Arunraj attributed to private medical colleges offering free maternity care. The government will conduct a detailed study on why women are choosing private facilities despite quality care available at state hospitals.
The Indian Opinion
The minister's mention of Andhra-style incentives sounds like a knee-jerk fix for a complex demographic shift. Cash-for-babies schemes in developed countries have shown negligible long-term impact on fertility rates. The real test will be how the state balances its progressive healthcare gains with the unavoidable reality of an ageing population. Will TN's detailed study on falling hospital births address sky-high private healthcare costs before throwing money at boosting birth numbers?
Source: thefederal.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
