In a significant policy shift, the Andhra Pradesh government has repealed the 30-year-old two-child norm for candidates contesting local body elections.
The decision was formalized on Monday with the passage of the AP Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the AP Municipal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
The two-child norm was introduced in May 1994 through an amendment to the Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act. It barred individuals with more than two children from running for positions in Gram Panchayats, Mandal Praja Parishads, and Zilla Parishads. The policy aimed to curb population growth, reflecting the priorities of its time.
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu emphasized that the socio-economic landscape has significantly evolved since the rule's introduction. He advocated for encouraging larger families, citing declining fertility rates and the need for economic growth as compelling reasons to revise the policy.
The latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019–2021) indicates that Andhra Pradesh's total fertility rate is 1.7 children per woman, below the replacement level of 2.1. This marks a decline from 1.9 in NFHS-4 (2015–2016). Fertility rates are even lower in urban areas (1.47) compared to rural areas (1.78).
The survey also revealed that 77% of married women and 74% of men aged 15–49 have opted for sterilization or do not want more children. Among those who desire more children, the majority prefer to wait at least two years before their next birth. Furthermore, over 90% of women and 86% of men see two or fewer children as the ideal family size.
Given these trends, the government deemed the two-child norm outdated and misaligned with contemporary demographic realities.
The repealed policy, according to the Bills, had become counterproductive in light of declining fertility rates and the stabilization of the population. Repealing the norm, the government argued, would foster inclusive governance, reflect modern social values, and align Andhra Pradesh with global best practices.
By scrapping the decades-old restriction, the state aims to promote greater participation in local governance.