India To Ban Foreign Surrogate Services
India's government is taking necessary measurements to ban surrogate services for foreigners wanting babies. The government on Wednesday filing an affidavit in Supreme Court said it will only allow surrogacy for Indian couples and not foreigners.
Surrogacy is one of the most lucrative business India and Many foreign nationals come to India to get surrogate babies for a lesser price.
"The government does not support commercial surrogacy. No foreigners can avail surrogacy services in India and it will be available for only Indians. The government will prohibit and penalise commercial surrogacy services," an affidavit filed by the Centre in the Supreme Court said.
Surrogate mothers are mostly from Dalit and tribal backgrounds and many of them were poor and illiterates. Size of India's surrogacy business is at nine billion rupees ($138 million) and growing at 20 per cent a year. Critics have said a lack of legislation governing surrogacy encourages "rent-a-womb" exploitation of young, poor Indian women
The government also plans to penalise couples who refuse to take the custody of a child born with disabilities. The government, in its affidavit presented to the court said it would "require some time to bring the law in place".
Critics argue that poverty is a major factor in the women's decision to become a surrogate. The cost of surrogacy in India generally ranges from about $18,000 to $30,000, of which around $8,000 goes to the surrogate mother. The figure is roughly a third of the US price and many foreigners preferring India due to low price.
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News Posted: 28 October, 2015
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