What is BPNI (Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India)?

Updated

BPNI stands for the Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India, a national network of organisations and individuals dedicated to promoting mother and child health through the protection, promotion, and support of breastfeeding. It was founded on 3 December 1991 in Wardha, Maharashtra. If you are looking for an Indian organisation focused on breastfeeding advocacy, hospital practices, and parent-facing resources, this site is relevant to that purpose.

What BPNI is

According to its own description, BPNI is not a single clinic or company but a network — it brings together organisations and individuals around a shared mission of improving mother and child health through breastfeeding. Its stated approach has three parts: protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding.

The organisation traces its origins to a personal experience described on the site: in 1979, two doctors who supported breastfeeding found they could not sustain exclusive breastfeeding for their daughter because no support was available from family or the health care system, and the prevailing bottle-feeding culture was too strong. The same happened with their son in 1981. That gap — women being told to breastfeed but not supported to do so — became the motivation behind the network.

What the website covers

The site functions as a hub for campaigns, resources, and initiatives rather than a general information portal. Current items highlighted on the homepage include:

  • World Breastfeeding Week-2026 — campaign activity tied to the annual observance.
  • "Breastfeeding Friendly Hospital" Initiative (BFHI) India for Private Hospitals — work aimed at changing hospital practices.
  • BPNI's Ante-natal Preparation Modules for Feeding Babies — materials preparing expectant mothers for infant feeding.
  • COVID-19 and breastfeeding resources — guidance produced during the pandemic period.
  • A parent guide on breastfeeding and complementary feeding, available in English, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Assamese, Gujarati, Oriya, and Punjabi, listed at Rs. 50 with an order option.
  • A donate link and social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube).

The site also carries an advocacy item urging people to stop unethical infant formula trials on babies, with a petition link.

When this site is useful to you

  • You want to understand who is behind a breastfeeding campaign or resource in India.
  • You are a parent or health worker looking for feeding guidance in one of the listed Indian languages.
  • You work at a private hospital and want to know about the Breastfeeding Friendly Hospital Initiative.
  • You are researching breastfeeding advocacy organisations and need the founding details and mission statement.

When it may not be what you need

The homepage is oriented toward announcements and campaigns. It does not present itself as a source of individual medical advice, and the excerpt does not describe clinical services, appointment booking, or personalised consultation. For a specific feeding concern, a qualified health professional remains the appropriate route.

Practical notes

  • The parent guide is priced at Rs. 50; the site shows an order option rather than a free download.
  • Some resources are multilingual, so check whether your language is among those listed before ordering.
  • If you want to follow updates, the site points to Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube accounts.