Bengaluru: The big producer of Bollywood Karan Johar has become a father to twins through surrogacy. This fatherhood has ignited debate and discussions surrounding surrogacy and whether it is a boon or a bane. Karan in his open letter thanked the surrogate saying, she will always be in his prayers and also thanked Dr Jatin Shah, without whom this would not have been possible.

Dr Jyoti Bhaskar, Director of Lifecare Institute of IVF-Infertility in New Delhi, believes it to be a boon. “The infertile can also have child. If you have the resources and want to have a child, why not,” she asks.

Dr Shalini Vallavoju who practices in Hyderabad says, “Gujarat and Maharashtra are known to be the surrogacy hubs. To have a child through surrogacy, you may have to shell out Rs 9-15lakh, including the cost of doctors, legal fees, antenatal care, surrogate compensation, egg donor, drugs and consumables and IVF costs. This may seem like an expensive affair.” It definitely is expensive, and therefore only a section of the society can afford it. “It can be emotional exploitation for the mother who is parting with her baby. And definitely, is an economic exploitation. But the surrogate is doing it willingly,” she adds.

Dr.Mohan Rao, Professor at the Centre of Social Medicine and Community Health, School of Social Sciences, in Jawaharlal Nehru University, has done extensive research on the subject and is vehemently against the commodification of the body through surrogacy.

“Commercial surrogacy is commodification of the body that many societies find unacceptable with respect to human rights and dignity,” he argues. This exploitation will soon end in the form of commercial surrogacy. The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, which will soon become an Act, bans commercial surrogacy, single men, women and gay couples from opting for surrogacy, he points.

Karan Johar should surely be thanking his stars; he made the decision just on time!