Kiran Bedi’s Strong Remarks on Women and Workforce Planning

Former IPS officer and Puducherry former Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi has questioned Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s remarks on addressing future skilled manpower needs through higher birth rates. She asked whether encouraging women to have more children is the only solution, or if alternative approaches should be considered.

In a post on X, she emphasized that women should not be viewed merely as instruments for population growth. She suggested investing in skill development centres, strengthening the Telugu language ecosystem, and attracting talent from across the country to improve productivity. While acknowledging that incentives for higher birth rates may be discussed, she questioned whether women should spend their most productive years focused primarily on raising three or four children instead of broader opportunities.