Family Planning Association of India (FPA India) commemorates its 75th anniversary in July 2024, marking a significant milestone in the country’s history of family planning and realizing women’s sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR). FPAI Kolkata Branch celebrated the occasion with great fervour on 23rd July. Present on the occasion were senior FPAI officials like Prof. Dr. Tinni Dutta, Dr. Lina Bandopadhyay, Supratip Mazumdar and other dignitaries, members, staff and well-wishers of FPAI. FPA India’s story is interwoven with India’s post-independence journey. In 1947, when India became independent, fertility was high with couples averaging six children. Public health facilities were minimal and life expectancy was 40 years. With a burgeoning 344 million population, with too soon and too many children detrimental to women’s health, a group of concerned women decided to address this issue. This evolved into the establishment of Family Planning Association of India (FPA India) in 1949. Recognizing the need for public education and community engagement, FPA India emerged as a key partner of the Government of India, instrumental in successfully advocating for including family planning in the country’s first five-year plan (1952). Under the Leadership and vision of Lady Dhanwanti Rama Rau and Ms Avabai Wadia, FPA India adopted a decentralized, community-based approach, working with the urban poor and villagers from some of the most impoverished regions of India. Through grassroots outreach, advocacy efforts, and close collaboration with the Government of India and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, FPA India effectively promoted the benefits of smaller families for women’s health and overall development. FPA India’s contribution in advocating for Family Planning ensured its introduction in the country’s first Five Year Plan (1952). It is through these efforts that India became the first country in the world to introduce policies around Family Planning.
FPA India’s dedication was acknowledged by the Government of India with a commemorative postal stamp issued on their 50th anniversary. FPA India’s legacy extends beyond national borders. FPA India was one of the founding members of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), established during the Third International Planned Parenthood Conference held in Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1952. Today, FPAI India continues to be a prominent member of the IPPF’s 149 member countries, representing India’s pioneering efforts in the global SRHR landscape. As FPA India turns 75, the organization remains committed to ensuring equitable access to SRHR information and services across 18 Indian states. Their unwavering dedication continues to empower communities and pave the way for a healthier future for all.