New Delhi :   The country’s booming In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) industry has cautiously welcomed the passing of Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill 2016 in the ongoing session of the Parliament which has totally  banned commercial surrogacy in India.

The Bill  passed by the Lok Sabha yesterday  aimed  at safeguarding the rights of poor surrogate mothers renting their wombs. It bans commercial surrogacy but allows altruistic surrogacy, where women can legally carry someone else’s child if no money (other than medical cost and insurance), favour or coercion is involved. Under the proposed law, only infertile Indian couples who have been married for at least five years can opt for surrogacy, while those who already have a child cannot do so.

“ The Bill may be helpful in curtailing exploitation of poor surrogate women , but in hindsight, it will lead to breakdown of marriages and promote second marriage even. Ours is a very conservative society. No close relative will come forward to be a surrogate, which is exactly the reason so many childless couples who opted for surrogacy, went through the commercial route,” says Hisar, Haryana  based Eminent In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) expert Dr Anurag Bishnoi, who was in news couple of years back for helping elderly 70 plus Amritsar couple have a child.

“In the recent years IVF and Surrogacy has become a major tool  to save marriages of childless couples, but new bill will be disaster for women as men will go for second marriage to have child as adoption will not be allowed after 45 years of age of couple. In India not having a child is a social stigma, many childless mothers will allow husband to go in for second marriage ,” Dr Bishnoi expressed his fears.

“The Bill appears to have been framed without addressing the actual concern of surrogacy arrangements and could do more harm than good by leading to exploitation of women” said Dr Bishnoi.

“The Surrogacy Bill will have less impact in the  States of Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan as very few cases of surrogacy take place in these states due to conservative culture . The bill will impact reproductive tourism in a big way “said  UK trained  Dr Anurag Bishnoi who runs his infertility centre in Hisar

“We welcome the provision of bill prohibiting single or gay individuals to become fathers/mothers through surrogacy single fatherhood through surrogacy as it was against Indian traditional family system and culture. People like Karan Johar or Shahrukh khan  may be rich and  can afford ten full-time nannies for Twins or may have support of their extended and alternative families but that does not mean the Children’s birth should be permitted. “Providing a child with family not family with a child” is well drawn line for surrogacy and adoption World wide  “ said Dr Bihsnoi

“we welcome provision of setting up of national and state surrogacy boards and state appropriate authorities within three months of the notification by the Union government.. This will help in fast securitising of cases which need IVF treatment” he added