Family Planning Association of India 1999

The Family Planning Association of India, abbreviated as FPA India, is a registered charity in India. Established in 1949, the organisation has 40 local branches across the country that promote sexual health and family planning. It is the national affiliate of the International Planned Parenthood Federation. Among other issues, the organisation promotes reproductive choices, legal and safe abortion, education about sexually transmitted disease

A small band of devoted and like minded men and women in Bombay establish the Family Planning Committee, to help safeguard the health and lives of women who have too many and too closely spaced pregnancies by educating couple about the health and other benefits of family planning for the family, to inculcate in them a new sense of responsibility  toward parenthood and, on a larger scale, to promote it as a measure that could help balance between population and resources.

This small beginning, although unknown then, was to become a significant first step toward a nationwide  movement for family planning.

*the Committee renames itself the Family Planning Association of India (FPAI) Two of its dynamic volunteers - Smt. Dhanvanthi Rama Rau and Smt. Avabai B Wadia are its President and Hony. General Secretary, respectively*.

The Association sends a Memorandum to the newly-formed Planning Commission of independent India, to include family planning in the country’s First Five Year Plan. *Smt. Rama Rau and Mrs Wadia are invited and serve on its Health and Social Welfare Panels respectively, to speak for this cause.*

India is the largest functioning democracy in the world with the second largest population. On 2.4 percent of the world’s land area she supports 16 percent of its population. The population is increasing by about 17 million + every year. Recognising that the planning of families would enhance individual health and welfare,

*Government of India  was the first in the world to initiate a comprehensive Family Planning Programme  in 1951*. In keeping with democratic traditions of the country, its education, health and family welfare programme, promote the concept of the small family, responsible and planned parenthood. At the time of India’s Independence, there were but few health facilities serving the rural poor.

The past five decades have witnessed significant investments in developing a network of health centres all over India. Through this vast infrastructure of sub-centres, primary health centres and community health centres, the government has been playing the role of a facilitator by providing family planning services for the people to plan their families.In recognition of the strong support lent to the efforts of the Government by various individuals and organisations,

Today, the FPAI as it is popularly known, has 39 Branches, 20 Projects and 3 Area Projects spread across the length and breadth of the country all the statistics given here are at the time of the 50th Anniversary celebration of this cause, i.e. 1999.

Ever since its establishment, FPAI had been in touch with similar organisations in Europe  and  America.  In 1952, it organised the Third International  Conference of Planned Parenthood  in India at Mumbai. At this conference,

The International Planned Parenthood Federation took shape with Hong Kong,  Singapore, West Germany,  UK, USA, Sweden, Holland  and India as the founder members.

The Mumbai Conference  was a landmark in stressing the need to regulate the rapid growth of population for promoting national well-being and progress  through  voluntary Family Planning. As a leading national family planning NGO supporting the Government programme,  FPAI has over the years created awareness of Population, Reproductive and Sexual Health, Youth Concerns, and Women's  Empowerment so as to widen its support and strengthen its base within the country. The ultimate objective of all activities undertaken by the Association is to help improve the quality life of all people.

DOP  issues this  commemorative  postage stamp on the 50th Anniversary  of  the  Family Planning  Association  of India to acknowledge the service undertaken by the Family Planning Association of  India  (FPAI), a Non–Governmental Organisation (NGO).

Issued Date: 18.12.1999 
Denomination :300 Paisa