India has 20 Million orphan children. Doesn’t it make sense to encourage adoption rather than support surrogacy, for those unable to naturally bear children?
Am so glad that India has put brakes on universal & commercial surrogacy and has laid down strict norms for the same. A few months ago, when this was done, there was massive outrage on SM with a whole lot of people (nearly everyone) lambasting the government for ‘trying to control’ how people have kids. I was in a very small minority who agreed with the strict norms laid down; and had a few spats about it too. I was convinced then and that conviction is now renewed.
Commercial, universal, surrogacy without any parameters is a disaster waiting to happen, especially in a country like India.
The key operative part of this article is this – “Last week, a young married woman in labour came to the Government Modern Maternity Hospital at Petlaburj in Hyderabad and gave birth to a baby girl. She said she was a surrogate mother and was promised Rs 3 lakh but when the parents, reportedly from Guntur in Andhra Pradesh, found out it was a girl, they reportedly did the absconding act.”
Further, here are some terrible news articles about other stories from countries which have legalised universal commercial surrogacy:
– https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2016/02/04/parents-often-reject-surrogate-babies-with-defects-australian-review-says.html
– http://www.smh.com.au/national/australian-couple-leaves-down-syndrome-baby-with-thai-surrogate-20140731-zz3xp.html
-http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/children/11055643/British-mother-rejected-disabled-twin-because-she-was-a-dribbling-cabbage-says-surrogate.html
– http://articles.latimes.com/2001/aug/11/local/me-33076
There are hundreds of such stories out there. Very depressing. The world has enough problems as it is. Why would we want to give it an opportunity to create more?
I feel for people who can’t naturally have babies. I really do. I am all for easing the process of Adoption in India. I am also in favour of the concept of Foster Care, where families receive money / subsidies from the government for any orphans that they accept into their homes & families to raise as their own! Of course both Adoption & the Foster Care system has to be extremely well managed to eliminate those who want to misuse it for personal financial or perverted gains.
Adoption gave the world a Steve Jobs! I am sure there are more out there!!!
Let’s all ENCOURAGE ADOPTION!