Andhra CM Naidu Urges Shift in Mindset: See Children as Wealth, Not Burden

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday stressed the need to view children as assets rather than liabilities, as he launched the national Pulse Polio Immunisation (PPI) drive at his residence. He administered oral polio drops to a few children and called for a cultural shift in how families and society perceive child-rearing.

Mr. Naidu highlighted declining fertility rates and said the government is offering incentives to encourage families to have two or more children. He advocated for a return to the joint family system, arguing that in such setups, raising children was a shared responsibility among grandparents, parents, and other relatives. This, he said, helped instil values and reduced the burden on individual parents.

The Chief Minister emphasised that child care should not be limited to women alone. He urged husbands and men to take equal responsibility, especially when women are working. "The mindset of viewing children as a burden must go," he said, noting that globally, societies are beginning to see children as wealth with an eye on the future.

Mr. Naidu also advised parents to ensure their children receive all government-recommended vaccines on schedule to protect them from preventable diseases like polio.

Officials from the Department of Family Welfare informed the Chief Minister that the three-day PPI drive, starting June 28, aims to administer polio drops to approximately 49.2 lakh children under the age of five across the state.

Among those present were Commissioner of Family Welfare and Director of Secondary Health K.V.N. Chakradhar Babu, along with other senior officials from the State Health Department and the National Health Mission.