ET Awards: Chandrababu Naidu sees no threat to South, asks why oppose women’s reservation

Synopsis

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu advocates for a 'population management policy,' encouraging couples to have at least two children to counter declining fertility rates and an aging population. He also expressed support for the delimitation bill, emphasizing gender equity and women's empowerment in Parliament.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu exhorted Indians to have two or more children and explained why he would be introducing a ‘population management policy’ next month. In a fireside chat with Pranab Dhal Samanta at the ET Awards for Corporate Excellence, Naidu explained why he supported the delimitation bill and questioned the opposition to the proposal that sought to proportionately increase the number of seats for women in the Lok Sabha. Edited excerpts:

What makes Chandrababu Naidu tick for Andhra Pradesh? How are you attracting investors to the state so soon and so fast?

I have been in politics for the last four and a half decades. I have seen India pre-economic reforms and post-economic reforms. When I became chief minister for the first time in 1995, I prepared Vision 2020 for Andhra Pradesh. Now our prime minister is preparing Viksit Bharat 2047. We are now preparing Vision 2047—Swarna Andhra Pradesh. India will be number one—that will be possible only through Narendra Modiji. Today we are living at an inspiring time—data centres, artificial intelligence and quantum. We have been talking about Silicon Valley, which is in America. But in the future, we will be talking about Quantum Valley, which will be in India, in Amaravati.

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We are all now consumed by the conflict in West Asia and its impact on the world economy. Could you share your thoughts on the big plans for nuclear, solar and wind energy?

Now, we are working on a cost-effective energy sector so that we can be less dependent on West Asia automatically. Our Prime Minister has announced 500 GW of green energy by 2030. Andhra Pradesh is going to contribute 160 GW. We have already achieved nearly 90 GW. This is the speed with which we are moving forward. Green energy is the future. The day is not far away when India will export electricity through green hydrogen and green ammonia.

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But will this mean more technology collaboration with China?

Earlier, even to have a panel, we had to depend on China. Today, we are also moving in the direction of end-to-end solutions. The next step in the future is green ammonia. Andhra Pradesh will take the lead. The day after tomorrow, I will lay the foundation for Google’s data centre in Visakhapatnam—it is the largest FDI in India at $15 billion.

After Hyderabad, today you are on to another project to build a new city— Amaravati. What is the road ahead?

God has given me one more opportunity to build another city—Amaravati. You are all aware that in our mythology, God’s capital is Amaravati. This is the people’s capital, Amaravati. I am assuring you, anybody who wants to have a better lifespan, they should come and settle in Amaravati. We are going to build one of the best futuristic cities.

What are your thoughts on the freebies culture in Indian politics and what it has done to the Andhra Pradesh economy?

One has to create wealth through reform, and only then can we give welfare. Without creating wealth, you cannot generate revenue and sustain the overall economy…. What type of society do you want to see in future? Only billionaires, millionaires or better living standards for everybody? This is what I am working on: P4. P3 is a publicprivate partnership. I am adding one more P—public-private-people partnership. So what I am suggesting to all of you is that it is our responsibility to uplift society. Ultimately, we have to reduce the inequalities between haves and have-nots. Every family should have better living standards. While we create wealth at the same time, we have to bridge the gap. That is where P4 comes in—the top 10% must support and uplift the bottom 20%. Ultimately, we have to build overall empowerment of that family.

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While many southern states protested the government’s recent move on the delimitation bill, why did you support it?

Gender equity and empowering women are very important. The Government of India has done the right thing. Even around 2001, Vajpayeeji (Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee) had brought delimitation by keeping the 1971 census. In 1996, Deve Gowda brought the Women’s Reservation Bill for the first time. The Congress party didn’t support. After that, Vajpayeeji’s NDA government brought it thrice. In 2010, the UPA brought women’s reservation, and the BJP supported it. In 2023, all parties supported women’s reservations. I don’t know why they are opposing it today. Prime Minister and Amit Shah have announced very clearly—50% uniform enhancement of seats for each state. Andhra Pradesh, which has 25 seats, will see an increase of 13 seats; Uttar Pradesh, which has 80, will see 40 seats increase.

Tamil Nadu, with 39 seats, will see an increase of 20 seats. What is the problem? I am unable to understand. Even South and North will see an increase in seats in the same proportion. Men will also be very happy since the number of seats are increasing and the women will also get 33%. This is the best solution for the nation to get women’s reservation. According to me, they are making this an issue unnecessarily.

Is it an opportunity lost?

If all women decide, then two-thirds willcome automatically to Parliament.

You have had the opportunity to work with several Prime Ministers. How would you compare Prime Minister Narendra Modi with others?

I have worked with many prime ministers and Presidents of India. The present prime minister is a strong reformer and also a performer. Earlier, I used to claim I was doing better. Now I am openly saying our prime minister is better than me. He is very progressive. He is bringing many administrative reforms…. He is working towards making the government pro-investment.

You are doing reverse thinking on population. What is your population management policy?

This is a very important issue for all of us. Three decades back, I started population control and motivated people. We have been successful in achieving that goal in 10 years. Now we are facing a problem in south India. Not only India but also many countries are facing the problem of an ageing population. China, due to its one-child norm, is facing a declining population. Now I am promoting population management—every couple should have a minimum of two children. Earlier, I used to promote one is good, two is okay, three is not correct. Now, I am promoting a minimum of two, but three or more are welcome. There is a conflict between wealth and population. Whenever you are getting more money, we all become selfish…. In my state, I am seeing a 1.5 fertility rate; even India’s rate is 1.9, but the replacement rate is 2.1. If we continue up to 2047, India will have the advantage of young India. Ultimately, we are going to work only for machines. robotics. Work will be done. But ultimately in the future, those who are having more population will be more prosperous. Next month I am going to start this programme.

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