LS passes Bill on assisted reproductive tech clinics; MPs flag exclusion of single parents, LGBTQ people

The Lok Sabha passed a long awaited bill to regulate and supervise assisted reproductive technology (ART) clinics on Wednesday. However, the MPs flagged the exclusion of single parents and the LGBTQ community from using this procedure.

The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed a long awaited bill to regulate and supervise assisted reproductive technology(ART) clinics and to establish a national registry and registration authority in the country which is emerging as a major centre in the multi-million dollar fertility services industry.

The Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, 2021 provides for penal provisions with offences punishable with hefty fines and tougher sentences(8 to 12 years).