Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019 aims to control unethical practices in surrogacy

Government has taken up several progressive legislative measures for ensuring women's health. The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019 was introduced in the Lok Sabha in July last year. The bill aims to control the unethical  practices in surrogacy, prevent commercialization of surrogacy and prohibit potential exploitation of surrogate mothers and children born through surrogacy. It allows for altruistic surrogacy but not commercial surrogacy. The Select Committee examined the bill and its report was tabled in the Rajya Sabha on 5th of



last month.

The Committee recommended that surrogate motherhood should not be restricted to close relatives alone. It should be allowed  to any willing woman. The other major changes recommended by the Committee include allowing single woman, be it a widow or a divorcee, to be allowed to avail surrogacy. The Committee has also recommended  removal of  requirement of five years as the period of inability to conceive before opting for surrogacy.