Over Thirty years of breastfeeding movement in India has led to an unprecedented momentum towards recognition of ‘breastfeeding interventions as a core component of infant survival and growth and development.
Since its founding in 1991, BPNI spearheaded the advocacy work on policy and programmes to enable women to be successful in breastfeeding. BPNI’s meticulous work on single issue has inspired unprecedented mobilization of public and professional opinion on infant and young child feeding issues and concerns.
Sustainable Policy Change through BPNI’s Advocacy
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Inclusion of breastfeeding practice indicators in statistics in demographic surveys i.e. NFHS 1, 2, 3 (1991, 1999 and 2005) and DLHS 3(1993).
- Enactment of Infant Milk Substitutes Feeding Bottles, and Infant Foods (Regulation of Production, Supply and Distribution) Act 1992, Amendment Act 2003(IMS Act).
- Amendment of the Cable TV Networks (Regulations) Act in 2000, to ban advertisements of infant milks and foods on the cable service by Ministry of information and Broadcast.
- Inclusion of breastfeeding in the five year plans (10th, 11th and 12th) for women and children’s nutrition and rights.
- Launch of pilot IGMSY scheme in 52 districts supporting women for their nutrition and practicing breastfeeding by MoWCD(2010-11)
- Development of the National Guidelines on Infant and Young Child Feeding (2004 and 2006) and Operational Guidelines for Enhancing Optimal Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices (2013).
- National Food Security Act (NFSA) section 4B mentions that exclusive breastfeeding should be promoted as a food security intervention for children of 0-6 months.
- BPNI’s skilled counseling training on IYCF got introduced in 21 states building the capacity of more 50,000 health system staff of NHM and ICDS which includes field level workers.
- NACO guidelines on Nutrition for HIV exposed (0-14 years of age) children includes exclusive breastfeeding based on latest WHO guidelines.
- Codex India positioned stronger on breastfeeding and infant feeding.
- Launch of MAA -Mother's Absolute Affection Programme, a nationwide programe to promote breastfeeding by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare , Government of India with BPNI's untiring advocacy. BPNI is one of the technical partner to this programme.
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