Surrogacy Bill must not be enforced, acts as support system for poor women:K.T.S Tulsi

Criticising the Centre's move to ban commercial surrogacy, senior advocate and Rajya Sabha member K.T.S Tulsi said that surrogacy is one of the biggest support systems for poor women and urged the government to introduce greater regulation to protect them.

"There is greater demand for Indian surrogates across the world. India has earned its name in the field. I think we should not complicate this. The government must ensure that poor women, who are hired as surrogates, must be protected, they must ensure that women get paid according to the contract, and they must also ensure that no one deceives them," Tulsi told ANI.

He also proposed that the provision which prevents single parents, homosexual couples and live-in relationship couples to access altruistic surrogacy must be scrapped.

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave its approval for the introduction of Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016.

The Bill aims at prohibiting commercial surrogacy and allowing ethical surrogacy to needy infertile couples.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had said that the bill was introduced as India emerged as a surrogacy hub for couples, and added that the government is aware of unethical practices.

Criticisng the practice of commercial surrogacy, Swaraj said, "What started as a need, has now turned into a hobby."

The Bill will be introduced during the winter session of Parliament.