1932 - The first All India Women's Conference was held during 1932 at Lady Irwin College, New Delhi.

1936 - The Allahabad Agricultural Institute established a department of Home Economics and a two years college course.

1942 - The Women’s Christian College and the Queen Mary’s College in Chennai started the first degree course in India in Home Science

1950 - The M.S University of Baroda opened a Faculty of Home Science. At about the same time, the Home Science Association of India was brought into existence at a meeting is Baroda . The Home Scientists who participated were late Smt. Hamsa Mehta and Mrs.Leela Desai, Dr.Plemmie Kittrel, Dr. Rajammal P.Devadas, Miss Dorothy Pearson, Mrs.Sucykoshy, Dr.(Miss)Florence Theophilus and Miss Nitya Soysa from Ceylon. Mrs.Dorothy Pearson was responsible for framing the constitution which was adopted at the first conference of the Association held at Chennai in 1952.

The Home Science Association of India has since then grown in stature and has established 16 State branches and has 788 life members, 300 ordinary members, 10 Institutes adn 300 student members. The associtaion has completed 20 biennial conferences and has been instrumental in developing scientific, realistic, useful and practical job oriented courses.

The Basic aims and objectives of the Association are:

1 .To promote the welfare of the family through sound home making education.

2. To raise the standards of profession in the field of Home Science.

The Basic aims are to be implemented by:

1. Encouraging the establishment and improvement of home science education in schools, colleges and universities.

2. Making available reports, pamphlets and other publications relating to Home Science to all members.

3. Encouraging and aiding research and investigation in the various fields of Home Science.

4. Updating and coordinating the courses in different institutions.

5. Being instrumental in promoting consumer education for quality products.

6. Undertaking supporting activities for the expansion of Home Science Extension for the Benefit of rural home-makers.

7. Developing scientific attitudes and artistic outlook in home making.

8. Exploring the employment opportunities of Home Scientist and raising the professional status of Home Science.

9. Publication of research papers through the Journal of Home Science.

HSAI is affiliated with the International Federation of Home Economics.

1. Charter members consist of those who participated in the first meeting of the association in 1951.

2. Life members consisting of those who have a degree or any equivalent diploma in Home Science or Home Economics from a recognized Indian University and have paid for life membership.

3. Student members

4. Honorary members

5. Institutional members

OFFICE BEARERS:

The office bearers of the Association include an immediate past President, President, four Vice Predisents, Hon. General Secretary, a Joint Secretary, and a Treasurer. The Executive Committee consists of the elected officers, the immediate past President, selected members, the chairman of the State Branches ,the chairman of the nominating committee and the Editor of the Journal of the Association . Regular Biennial meeting of the Association are held at such times and places as may be determined by the Executive Committee.

STATE BRANCHES:

Starting of the branches in every state is encouraged adn thus branches were opened in Karnataka, Kerala, Gujarat,Maharashtra, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, U.P, Bengal and Punjab. These branches have been organizing workshops at the state level.

Our Achievements

• The H.Sc. Association of India entered into a contract with the University of Tennessee in 1955 through the Joint sponsorship of the Government of India, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Education and the TCM, for sending Indians for training in U.S.

• The nucleus of H.Sc research and post graduate work in the Faculty of H.Sc University of Baroda was started for Ph.D work with the help of Ford Foundation.

• The standardization committee of the Association worked out the standardized terminology and brought out standard measuring and spoons.

• It has published a - Hand Book on Food Preparation.

• It is publishing the Indian Journal of H.Sc.

• It has published standard curriculum for the graduate course in H.Sc.

• A classified directory of Home Scientist was compiled.

• It compiled a brochure “H.Sc,in college and Universities”

• H.Sc was considered for the award of Indian Council of Agricultural Research merit scholarship to the students of B.Sc., M.Sc., and Senior Fellowship for research.

• It has been of help to the state government in programmes like ANP, Integrated Child Welfare Programme, Better Family Living and Housing Projects.

• It has established links with other Home Economic Association through the International Federation of Home Science.

• It has relationship with UN Organization like FAO, UNICEFC and UNESCO.

Biennial Conferences

• So far 20 Biennial conferences have been held. For each Biennial conference a topic theme was chosen around which discussion where held and deliberation made. The themes so far discussed are:

• Women‘s Christian College, Madras, 1952.

• Lady Irwin College, New Delhi, 1954.

• Agriculture Institute, Allahabad.

• The role of H.Sc in National Reconstruction (1958), M.S College of H.S, Jabalpur.

• H.Sc Programme in the Service of the Community –Rural and Urban (1960), Sri Avinashilingam Home Science College for Women, Coimbatore.

• Home Science at the Cross Roads (1962), Rajasthan Mahila Vidhyalaya, Udaipur.

• Challenges of Changing Concept of H.Sc (1964),S.N.D.T. Women’s University, Bombay.

• Role of H.Sc in National Integration and development (1966) Vihanilal College of Home & Social Sciences, Calcutta.

• H.Sc in the service of Family, Community and National (1968),Sri Avinashiligam Home Science College for Women, Coimbatore.

• Perspective in H.Sc for National Services (1970), University of Nagpur.

• Home Science for Better Living (1972),Government Colleges for Trivandrum.

• Role of H.Sc, in Combating National Problems (1974) Institute of Household Arts and Home Science,Agra.

• H.Sc and Integrated Action to meet the Nation‘s Crucial Needs (1975),Smt V.H.D Central Institute of Home Science, Bangalore .

• Home Science Education Focused on the Child and Rural Family (1978), Faculty of Home Science, M.S Home Science,Rajasthan Agriculture University.

• Home Science Challenge of Change (1991),S.N.D.T . W.University of Baroda, Gujarat.

• The needs based Approach in Home Science (1980), Faculty of Home Science, S.V University, Tirupathi, A.P.

• Home Science in the Technological Age (1982), G.B. Pant University, Pant Nagar, U.P.

• Home Science and Youth (1985), Faculty of Home Science, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology.

• Home Science and Health for All (1988), College of omen’s University, Bombay.

• The Family of 2000 A.D challenges ahead for Home Scientists (1993), Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women (1995) Resetting Professional Standards for Home Science Education, M.S.University.

• The H.Sc Association is represented through its members on the various National (Committees) Bodies. It has so many sub-committees.