America was behind India even 50 years ago: Abortion, family-control, condom use, daughter-save ads were used on the streets of Delhi-Mumbai

Reactions are being seen around the world to make abortion illegal in America. On the contrary, Germany has lifted the ban on advertisements related to abortion since Hitler’s era. Health workers and doctors were facing the brunt due to lack of awareness about abortions there. Cases were registered against many doctors. Abortion is legal in Germany up to 12 weeks pregnant. Amidst these news, there is a lot of discussion about an advertisement on social media. This 50 year old ad is from India. It is written in it… Abortion is legal, abortion is safe. Abortion is a simple procedure if you contact the doctor at the right time.

After the MTP Act was enacted in India, such hoardings were seen on the side of the roads.

Indian woman is seen pregnant in black and white picture. Below it is written a two-line message on abortion. It is being shared fiercely on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. People are commenting more than one on abortion, contraceptive drugs, population control etc.

Such advertisements were seen in the newspapers. On the one hand, the big family where there was misery, on the other hand, the small family where there was prosperity and happiness.

Comments on these old ads on Twitter

A user on Twitter wrote, ’70s Indian ad. Due to a clear stand on abortion, India could control the population boom. Women in the country have a right to say that I don’t want a child right now. I cannot keep a child in the womb which is not growing properly. I don’t want another child too soon.

One user wrote that Pearl Center’s ads were filled in Mumbai’s local trains. Wherever you look, these ads were seen there. It used to be written in only 70 rupees.

One user wrote, “Whenever this is an advertisement, it used to cost Rs 70 to get an abortion in a private clinic in Mumbai. In Wadia Hospital it was free of cost. I have seen dozens of young women coming and going for abortion within an hour.

In the 1970s-80s, advertisements for detention went something like this. In this also the message of family planning was given.

This advertisement is from Delhi. Roadside hoardings used to carry the message of Limit Your Family.

There were awareness programs for the save daughter even earlier

Right now the save girl child campaign is going on. But even in the 70-80s, awareness was spread to save daughters. Slogans like ‘we two, our small family, happy family’ were coined. In the 1980s, such advertisements were rife. Campaigns were run by the government for family planning. These advertisements also talked about sterilization.

Why only boy? Raising this question, this advertisement says many things. In the advertisement, the picture of women becoming doctors, police, lawyers and the message on it whether it is not a girl.

This is how the message was given on postage stamps for family planning.

postage stamp messages

After the passing of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act in 1971, messages of family planning were given through many mediums. Among them were postage stamps. Messages like Plan Your Family, Chhota Parivar, Happy Parivar were given by the Directorate of Family Planning.

What is MTP

The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act was enacted in 1971 after it was passed by the Parliament. In this, licensed medical professionals were allowed to perform abortions keeping in mind the circumstances. Such doctors who performed abortion would get exemption under section 312 of IPC. When the law was made in 1971, abortion could be done legally for only 20 weeks. With an amendment on 24 September 2021, the legal abortion was increased to 24 weeks in special circumstances. If the development of the fetus is abnormal, then abortion can be done above 24 weeks with the consent of the medical board.