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Surrogacy in India is estimated to be a $2.3 billion industry, but surrogate mothers are paid less than a tenth of what they get in the US. The mushrooming of IVF clinics, absence of a regulatory framework, and the availability of poor women willing to rent out their wombs has made India an attractive option for foreigners seeking a surrogate child. Several questions have been raised over the alleged exploitation of surrogate mothers, and over the need to safeguard their, the childโs, as well as the commissioning parentsโ rights.
The Indian government will not allow commercial surrogacy that involves exchange of money for anything apart from paying for the medical expenses for the mother and child. Thus, it will allow only โaltruistic surrogacyโ โ which, officials say, could in most cases involve a close blood relative.
In an affidavit to the Supreme Court, the government now says it willย henceforth โprohibit and penalise commercial surrogacy servicesโ so as to protect the โdignity of Indian womanhoodโ, and to prevent โtrafficking in human beingsโ and the โsale of surrogate childโ. Only needy infertile Indian couples would be able to opt for surrogacy of the altruistic kind.
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This line also excludes LGBTs, single men or women, couples in live-in relationships, as well as married couples who are proven to be fertile but choose to opt for surrogacy for reasons other than medical. The governmentโs view is based on the ethical stand that a child should not be the product of a transaction, and that motherhood should not be commodified.
Read full, original post:ย The issues around surrogacy
