Regulatory measures must to protect surrogate mothers: NCW

The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Thursday said that regulatory measures will help in protecting the rights of surrogate mothers and children born though surrogacy in India.

The commission also hoped that the Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill, 2014, would be introduced in parliament soon.

Giving details of a national consultation organised here on surrogacy issues on Thursday, NCW chairperson Lalitha Kumaramangalam said that the parties concerned discussed the draft of the bill while commercial surrogacy was rising in the country.

"It's very unregulated and unethical in India," she said at a press conference, adding that the NCW would try to get the proposed bill on the issue introduced in parliament at the earliest.

"Surrogacy is a big business in India," Kumaramangalam said, adding that it attracts people from across the world considering lower medical costs.

The NCW chairperson said the daft bill, once converted into a law, will protect the health and the rights of surrogate mothers and children born through surrogacy in the country.

"Lots of bills are pending in parliament. The Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill, 2014, is not a political one and should be passed soon after it is introduced," she said.

Kumaramangalam said various departments and ministries of the central government, including the home ministry and the health ministry, were in consensus over issues related to surrogacy in the country during the day-long conference.

She also expressed concern over trafficking of women and children for various illegal purposes and said these should be stopped.