Please don’t close this hope for people like us: Foreigners

New Delhi: Two weeks ago, Yosaf cradled a miracle in his arms. At 50, the Israeli businessman was despairing of becoming a father. Three IVF attempts over 10 years in the US and Ukraine had ended in failure before he decided to try his luck in Delhi. Although Yosaf is thrilled with his bundle of joy, he is disappointed to hear that the Indian government might soon bar foreigners from hiring surrogate mothers in India.
“Please don’t close this hope for people like us,” Yosaf said. He hopes to have one more child through surrogacy. “We thought of spending a little more and came to India for a surrogate child. There was nothing wrong in trying one more time. We are happy that we are not returning disappointed,” he added.
Unlike Yosaf, James Matthew started the process of surrogacy only a month ago, “We tried twice but failed each time. We went to California but didn’t succeed. India is our last hope,” said the 42-year-old businessman.
As much as the success rate of India’s fertility clinics, the easy availability of surrogate mothers draws childless couples from rich countries. In India, many women opt to become surrogates for money and there are queues of registrants outside the surrogacy centres. Some opt to become surrogates multiple times regardless of the risk to their own health.
But the foreigners don’t see themselves as the root of the alleged exploitation. “We brought gifts not only for her but also for her children. By stopping people like us from coming to India, they will be losing out on the economy as well,” Yosaf said.
The motives are not entirely charitable. To the foreigners, India offers a chance to become parents at 10% of the cost in the West. In America, surrogacy costs $550,000 (Rs 3.6 crore) and even if the pregnancy fails, the client must pay 50-60% of the contract fee. Yosaf said he had spent vast amounts of money on surrogates in the past 10 years. He even mortgaged his house.
Matthew has spent $50,000 (Rs 32 lakh) till now. For him, India is not only economical but also reliable. He feels at ease in the country’s diversity. “People in India understand English. There is no language barrier for us,” he said.
The business is also better organised here. The client doesn’t have to camp in India to check on the surrogate mother’s health. They visit India twice—once at the time of starting the process of surrogacy and then at the time of delivery. The surrogate’s health is the responsibility of the surrogacy centre.
Michelle, 49, came from the United States to take her baby back. “IVF costs a lot in the States. But in India, the success rate is high and the amount you shell out is less,” she said. She too visited India twice but kept in touch with the surrogate all through the pregnancy on phone. She flew back to the US on Friday.
(Names of the surrogate mothers and their clients have been changed)