AMN /
Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda on Friday said that the government is open to incorporating suggestions in the draft Surrogacy ( Regulation) Bill,2016.
He told reporters in New Delhi that some of its key provisions, including putting a stop to abandonment of children and exploitation of women, are non-negotiable.
Mr Nadda also dismissed criticism that government is trying to impose moral values on citizens, saying it is about righteousness and the technological advancements in this area have to be used in the right perspective.
Speaking on the bill, the Minister said, the government has brought the bill to ban commercialization of surrogacy and regulate it in the country.
Mr Nadda said, under the proposed legislation, the rights of surrogate mother and children borne out of surrogacy will be protected and exploitation of surrogate mother will be stopped. He said, the bill has been brought after wider consultation.
Health Minister said by and large commercial surrogacy has been banned across the globe including Thailand, Australia, Japan, Nepal and European countries.
Mr Nadda also said, there will be Surrogacy Boards at the national and State level to regulate surrogacy. The legislation allow ethical surrogacy to the needy infertile couples.
The proposed legislation bars married couples who have biological or adopted children, single people, live-in partners and homosexuals from opting for surrogacy.
Besides, foreigners, NRIs and PIOs have also been barred from opting for surrogacy as divorces are very common in foreign countries.
It only allows altruistic surrogacy for childless couples who have been married for at least five years.The surrogate mother should be a close relative of the couple, should be married and have borne a child of her own.