The Lok Sabha on August 5, 2019 passed the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019 by a voice vote. Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan had introduced the bill in Lok Sabha on July 15, 2019. The Bill seeks to ban commercial surrogacy while it regulates altruistic surrogacy .
According to the Health Minister, the Bill is aimed at ending the exploitation of women who are lending their womb for surrogacy, and protecting the rights of children born through this. The Bill will also look after the interests of the couple that opt for surrogacy, ensuring that there are laws protecting them against exploitation by clinics that are carrying this out as a business.
Definition
The bill defines surrogacy as a practice where a woman gives birth to a child for an eligible couple and agrees to hand over the child to them after the birth.
Surrogacy Allowed in some cases
Under the bill, surrogacy is permitted when it is for intending couples who suffer from proven infertility; altruistic; not for commercial purposes; not for producing children for sale, prostitution or other forms of exploitation; and for any condition or disease specified through regulations.
Altruistic surrogacy
The Bill allows altruistic surrogacy. It involves a surrogacy arrangement where the monetary reward only involves medical expenses and insurance coverage for the surrogate mother.
Other provisions
The bill provides for constituting a National Surrogacy Board, State Surrogacy Boards, and the appointment of appropriate authorities for the regulation of the practice and process of surrogacy.
