National Advocacy

Over 25 years BPNI has been leading the breastfeeding movement in India which has led to an unprecedented momentum towards recognition of ‘breastfeeding interventions’ as a core component of infant survival and growth and development. At the policy level BPNI closely work  with National and International Governments to protect , promote and support breastfeeding.  At the National level BPNI has been constantly facilitating and supporting Government of India in planning, implementing and monitoring national policy and programmes for infant and young feeding; child nutrition and maternity protection. BPNI work in close liaison with the Planning Commission/Niti Aayog, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) and Ministry of Women and Child Development, (MoWCD), Minister for Information and Broadcasting and Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India, State governments, Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and reputed medical colleges. Government of India recognizes BPNI's work for its technical expertise and credible standing on the & concerns of child health and nutrition. 

International Advocacy

At the International  level BPNI as the regional coordinating office for IBFAN Asia has been spearheading the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative (WBTi) for tracking the infant and young child feeding policy , programmes and practices across the world; facilitating call to action with civil society and international governments to bring change. BPNI/IBFAN Asia today stands strong with 84  WBTi countries on the map.

To know more about WBTi  click here 

Sustainable Policy Change at National Level

• 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 17 states building the capacity of more 45000 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 Nationwide Programme for Breastfeeding Promotion "MAA-Mother's Absolute Affection" by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• MoHFW & MoWCD stood strong against use of Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) to tackle malnutrition.