Any Willing Woman May Opt For Surrogacy: Parliamentary Committee

A parliamentary select committee led by BJP MP Bhupendra Yadav has proposed some major changes in the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019. The committee held a meeting this Wednesday and the key changes they have asked for are, allowing a "willing woman" and not just a "close relative" to become a surrogate mother, the omission of five year wait period before opting for surrogacy and also allowing single women to opt for surrogacy.

Read Also: Cabinet Introduces Regulation Bill To Ban Commercial Surrogacy

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• A Parliamentary Select Committee has proposed major changes in the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019.
• The committee was led by BJP MP Bhupendra Yadav.
• The five-year wait period before opting for surrogacy has now been omitted.
• The bill proposes any willing woman to be permitted to become a surrogate mother. 

While endorsing a ban on commercial surrogacy, the House Committee suggested keeping an option for providing compensation to the surrogate mother not only in terms of medical expenses and insurance cover but beyond that. The compensation can help her in taking care of her nutritional food requirements, maternity wear, etc., essential for the well-being of a surrogate mother. Moreover, the panel suggested increasing the duration of insurance cover from 16 months to 36 months, the Times of India reported.

The additional compensation can help her in taking care of her nutritional food requirements, maternity wear, etc., essential for the well-being of a surrogate mother.

The Rajya Sabha select committee examined the bill. It argued that the restriction of "close relative" affects the availability of surrogate mothers for those who need them. Hence, the inclusion of any willing woman to be given an allowance for being a surrogate mother. The report that was submitted on Wednesday had a provision in this regard. Earlier, a period of five years was required as a period of inability to conceive before opting for surrogacy. The committee has now said that there may be certain proven medical conditions like the absence of uterus by birth, non-functional uterus, removal of the uterus due to cancer, fibroids, etc or patients with chronic medical condition where normal pregnancy is ruled out and it is medically proven beyond any doubt that surrogacy is the only option. Further, the panel observed that the requirement of obtaining a certificate of proven infertility is not at all justified in such cases.

The country runs an unregulated market that traps poor women in need of money and deteriorates their bodies. Also, over the years, a reproductive trafficking business has emerged out of this practice.

As per the provisions of the bill, any single woman - either a divorcee or a widow, in the 35- to 45-year age group and persons of Indian origin (PIOs) to avail of surrogacy. The 2019 bill had come into place because of India's position as the 'rent-a-womb' capital of the world. The country runs an unregulated market that traps poor women in need of money. Also, over the years, a reproductive trafficking business has emerged out of this practice.

Picture credit: Catch News

Read Also: Cabinet Introduces Regulation Bill To Ban Commercial Surrogacy

Saavriti is an intern with SheThePeople.TV