New Delhi: In a significant move that could help vulnerable women to safe and legal abortion services, the Cabinet has given the nod to the bill. The termination of pregnancy is also extended from 20 to 24 weeks.
The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020, will be introduced in the Budget session of the Parliament.
Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Prakash Javadekar, said that the bill was brought after extensive consultations.
Prakash Javadekar said, “The limit for abortion has been increased from 20 weeks to 24 weeks. There was a demand from a section of women, doctors and court have also requested the same. ”
The upper limit will be allowed to certain categories of women, which will be defined in the amendments to the Medical Termination of Pregnancy rules and would include rape survivors, victims of incest and other vulnerable women. Differently-abled women and minors will also be included under the bill.
An official release said that the bill seeks to expand access for women to safe and legal abortion services on therapeutic, eugenic, humanitarian or social grounds.
