Lok Sabha Question No. 2954 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-02
Subject: Breastfeeding Practices
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: RANJANBEN BHATT, PRATHAP SIMHA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2954 TO BE ANSWERED ON 2 ND DECEMBER, 2016

## BREASTFEEDING PRACTI CES

## 2954. SHRIMATI RANJANBEN BHATT: SHRI PRATHAP SIMHA:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has launched any programme to promote breastfeeding practices, educate mothers to breastfeed new born children for the first six months and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether baby food manufacturing companies are putting a hurdle in it;

(c) if so, whether the Government has taken any action against them so far and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government is aware that several women are willing to donate milk to banks but insufficient awareness and the logistical challenges of transporting milk safely  from mother's homes tohospitals are the key hindrances to having more milk banks in the country and if so, the reasons therefor;

(e) whet her the Government proposes to launch a media campaign to promote Mother's Milk Bank to feed premature babies or for mothers with transmittable diseases who cannot breastfeed and if so, the details thereof;

(f) whether the only law related to breastfeeding in  India is  Infant Milk Substitutes, Feeding Bottles and Infant Foods (Regulation of Production, Supply and Distribution) formulated in 1992 and if so, the details of regulations thereunder;

(g) whether the Government is aware that India has only 18 Mother's Milk Banks or Donor Milk Banks, while Brazil is said to have the world's most extensive network of 217 human milk banks and if so, the reasons therefor; and

(h) whether banked breast milk has the potential to save 1,56,000 premature babi es a year, but there are not enough donor banks/ milk banks and if so, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

(SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)

(a) : Yes.  The  Ministry  of  Health  and  family  Welfare, Government  of  India  has  recently launched  'MAA -Mother's Absolute Affection' programme  in  the country to  improve breastfeeding  coverage  and  appropriate  breastfeeding  practices  in  the  country.  Unde programme,  greater  emphasis  is  laid  on  capacity  buildi ng  of  the  health  workers  on  lactation management  at  both  community  and  facility  levels  and  360  degree  IEC  campaign  to  crea awareness and educate young women about the benefits of breastfeeding.

- (b) & (c): There are no such complaint on this matter reported at Central level.
- (d) to (h): The matter regarding Human Milk Banking is still under discussion.

The Infant Milk Substitutes, Feeding Bottles and Infant Foods (Regulation of Produc Supply  and  Dist ribution) Act,  1992  (IMS  Act),  amended  in  2003,  has  been  enacted  by Government of India in the country to protect and promote breastfeeding and ensure prope of  infant  foods.  This  act  provides  for  the  regulation  and  irrational  promotion  of  pr supply and distribution of infant milk substitutes, feeding bottles and infant foods.