Vineeta Pandey

New Delhi: The government plans to bring surrogate motherhood under a legal purview.

The ministry of women and child development (WCD) is framing guidelines to protect the rights of surrogate mothers while addressing other issues linked to compensation, post-natal care, emotional trauma and organ donation.

Inexpensive medical services and cash are sufficient incentives for women to rent their wombs. But surrogacy is now taking a commercial form with touts having a field day.

"The rights of surrogate mothers must be protected. It will, otherwise, become like any other commercial industry where women will be prone to exploitation," said WCD minister, Renuka Choudhury.

About 40% of childless couples who seek surrogacy are Indians, followed by NRIs and foreigners. A surrogate mother typically earns between Rs 1.5 and Rs 4.5 lakh for the deal.

Dr Nayana Patel of Akanksha Infertility Clinic in Anand said the law would help prevent exploitation of surrogate mothers.

Source : DNA