MTP Bill 2020 is milestone for women's rights: Smriti

New Delhi, Jan 31 (IANS) Union Minister of Women and Child Development Smriti Irani on Friday said that the new bill regarding the medical termination of pregnancy will be a milestone in the sector of reproductive rights of women.Irani took to twitter and said: "Worldwide, abortion is acknowledged as an important aspect of reproductive health of women. The new Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020, aligning the reproductive rights of women with 21st century medicine will be a milestone."The Union Cabinet had recently approved the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020 to amend the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 to facilitate better access of women to safe and legal abortion services on therapeutic, eugenic, humanitarian or social grounds.The Bill will be introduced during the budget session of Parliament beginning from Friday.The proposed amendments include substitution of certain sub-sections, certain new clauses under some sections in the existing Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 with a view to increasing upper gestation limit for termination of pregnancy under certain conditions.It is also meant to strengthen access to comprehensive abortion care, under strict conditions, without compromising service and quality of safe abortion.The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "It (MTP Bill) is a step towards the safety and well-being of women, many of whom will be benefited," said a Cabinet note.
--IANS sfm/dpb