Regulatory Measures Must to Protect Rights of Surrogate Mothers: NCW Chairperson

Surrogacy is a big business in India that attracts people from across the world considering lower medical costs. The National Commission for Women (NCW) has suggested that regulatory measures will help in protecting the rights of surrogate mothers and children born though surrogacy in India. The NCW is also hopeful that the Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill, 2014, would be introduced in parliament soon.

Giving details of a national consultation organized on surrogacy issues, NCW chairperson Lalitha Kumaramangalam said, "The parties concerned discussed the draft of the bill while commercial surrogacy was rising in the country. It's very unregulated and unethical in India. The NCW would try to get the proposed bill on the issue introduced in parliament at the earliest."

Kumaramangalam further added, "The daft bill, once converted into a law, will protect the health and the rights of surrogate mothers and children born through surrogacy in the country. Lots of bills are pending in parliament. The Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill, 2014, is not a political one and should be passed soon after it is introduced."

The NCW chairperson said, "Various departments and ministries of the central government, including the home ministry and the health ministry, were in consensus over issues related to surrogacy in the country during the day-long conference."

Kumaramangalam also expressed concern over trafficking of women and children for various illegal purposes and said these should be stopped.

Source-IANS