Relevance : GS Paper II
The Lok Sabha has recently passed the Surrogacy Bill, 2019.
Surrogacy in India
- Violations of human rights of underprivileged woman.
- Plethora of unregulated assisted reproductive techniques (ART) clinics
- growing domestic demand for surrogacy services.
The Surrogacy Bill provisions
- surrogate mother can only be a close relative
- payment to the surrogate for medical expenses and insurance
- exploiting the surrogate would attract imprisonment and fine
- advertising for surrogacy will also attract the same punishment.
- registration of surrogacy clinics
- regulatory boards to ensure compliance with the law
The concern with the Surrogacy Bill
- Lack of specifics in definitions, for example ‘close relative’
- Exclusion of various groups of people from access to surrogacy; and
- Seeks to regulate surrogacy before setting the ART house in order.
Way forward
Govt needs to first set up a regulatory framework for ART clinics, which provide the basic technology for surrogacy.
Conclusion
The Surrogacy law has the possibility of revolutionising the surrogacy sector.
