DKT India was established in 1992 to complement the Indian government’s work in family planning and HIV/AIDS prevention. Initially, DKT India primarily served the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat, but today DKT India operates nationwide and is one of the largest contraceptive social marketing programs in the world.
In the early years of the program, DKT focused primarily on condoms and oral contraceptives. DKT India now supplies a wide range of contraceptives under its Kare brand, including six types of IUDs, five varieties of oral contraceptives, a three-month injectable, an emergency contraceptive, and safe abortion products. DKT India has received support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, National AIDS Control Organization, UNFPA, USAID, and Finland’s Väestöliitto.
Many rural villages in India do not have pharmacies, and many villagers purchase necessities from the nearest market towns. DKT conducts special promotional activities in these towns and provides three different condom brands to over 80,000 retailers. Other DKT products include Choice oral contraceptive pills, injectable contraceptives and IUDs. DKT also trains local village leaders in reproductive health through one-day workshops.
DKT India’s mission is to provide affordable condoms and contraceptives to the public, with a particular emphasis on increasing condom use among groups at risk for HIV/AIDS and low-income populations. DKT India reaches out to young adults through appealing packaging and engaging campaigns.
