New Delhi: Parliament on Wednesday passed a bill to regulate and supervise assisted reproductive technology clinics.
The Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, 2021, which was passed by Lok Sabha on December 1, got the approval of Rajya Sabha with a voice vote.
The Upper House also passed The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2020 with amendments. The proposed bill was earlier passed by Lok Sabha, but Rajya Sabha had referred it to a Select Committee. It will now go back to Lok Sabha for approval.
Replying to a discussion on both the bills taken up together, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that most of the recommendations of the Select Committee have been incorporated in the surrogacy bill.
Both the bills seek to curb unethical practices related to issues like sex selection and exploitation of surrogate mothers. The provisions include both monetary penalty as well as jail terms for violations.
The minister said these bills are aimed to give respect to women facing problems in giving birth.
The bill related to surrogacy aims to constitute a National Surrogacy Board, State Surrogacy Boards and appointment of appropriate authorities for regulation of the practice and process of surrogacy.
The Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, 2021 is for the regulation and supervision of the assisted reproductive technology clinics and the assisted reproductive technology banks, and prevention of misuse.
Among other objectives are ensuring safe and ethical practice of assisted reproductive technology services for addressing the issues of reproductive health where the technology is required for becoming a parent or for freezing gametes, embryos, embryonic tissues for further use due to infertility, and other conditions.
During the discussion on the bills, as well as their passage, opposition members continued to raise slogans against the suspension of the 12 MPs. Some of them were also in the Well of the House carrying placards.
Later, the House was adjourned at around 4.30 PM for the day. In the normal course, proceedings continue till around 6 PM.
Parliament gives nod to Dam Safety Bill
New Delhi: Parliament on Wednesday passed a bill that seeks to set up an institutional mechanism for the safety of specified dams in the country.
Rajya Sabha had passed The Dam Safety Bill on December 2 with minor amendments, including changing the year in the title of the Bill from 2019 to 2021.
Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat moved amendments to the Bill in Lok Sabha, which approved it with a voice vote.
The Bill provides for surveillance, inspection, operation and maintenance of the specified dams for the prevention of dam failure-related disasters. It provides for an institutional mechanism to ensure a safe functioning of the dams.
A clause has been added to the bill to impose punishment on the states or people if the norms are not adhered to.
Earlier, Lok Sabha had passed the Bill on August 2, 2019.
The Bill also seeks to constitute National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS), which is expected to work as a think-tank at the central level with the National Dam Safety Authority to monitor the implementation of the recommendations made by the NCDS.Similar bodies would also be there under the state governments.
