BS EDIT: Demographic dilemma: Inter-state migration will help

By Business StandardPublished On Oct 25, 2024

Call for more children

Chief Ministers Naidu and Stalin urge people to have more children as fertility rates fall, citing concerns over aging populations, inspired by Japan and Europe

Policies aiding growth

Naidu seeks to remove the two-child cap in Andhra, while Stalin suggests having up to 16 children in TN as pro-natalist policies are considered

Success of global trends

Global efforts to boost fertility rates seen less success, as women's empowerment & delayed marriages drive birth rate declines, resisting regressive policies

Concerns of southern states

Southern states fear losing political influence in delimitation as higher fertility rates in the north may shift the balance in parliamentary constituencies

India’s demographic challenge

India risks aging before achieving wealth, like South Korea, and may miss its chance for rapid development without sufficient population growth

Can migration help?

The US grows via immigration; South Indian leaders may consider in-migration from the north to address declining fertility rates and balance demographics