Women in Hyderabad Turns Oocyte Donors and Surrogates to Survive
After many discontinued jobs in the lockdown, many young women in Hyderabad are now approaching infertility clinics to avoid this unsteady time.
Women in the 25 to 35 year bracket- most say rising EMIs, dependent parents, and domestic obligations are no other option than to support them. Furthermore, this is only a temporary improvement, they add up quickly.
Says Meera, 25, “At least I will get the money next year, who landed in Hyderabad almost a year ago to join a leading hotel in the city.” He would expect an increase in the hospitality hierarchy over the next few years.
But once the lockdown hit, we were sent off. My 45,000 rupees per month salary was deducted only a few thousand overnight. We still do not know if we will ever be returned to work, ”she says, suggesting surrogacy was given by a friend who went through the process. Meera’s initial apprehension was put forward by doctors from the clinic and other surrogates. “Banks are hounding me for payment. My family back home (in North India) depends on me. I cannot shy away from any opportunity to make money coming my way. At least it is not immoral, ”she says, but she is not yet breaking the news to her mother.
Surrogacy was not Gauri’s first choice. “I aggressively looked for work. But all that came to light, there were front office jobs with a salary of just Rs 15,000. I was earning over 45,000 rupees in the children’s sports field, which I was 30 years old.
With a child, bank loan and a husband who was receiving only 25% of his salary for four months, he chose surrogacy after a relative’s recommendation. “I’m not worried about what people will say. They will not support me during my difficult days, ”she says.
As Heena, a multiplex manager who was removed from work after Covid-19. Earning 50,000 a month, he found himself struggling for wealth. “When a friend suggested oocyte donation. I had immediate bills to pay and it helped me. I hope to get another job soon.”
The doctors confirmed the trend.
Kiran Infertility Centre owner and director said: “Earlier, most of the women who opposed being an oocyte donor or surrogate were from poor backgrounds, but as the economy slowed down, we started getting calls from many educated women as well,” says Samit Sekhar. He says: “There has also been a growing acceptance in society that what he has created is easy. This trend is seen at both Hyderabad and Bangalore centres.”
On average, a surrogate mother is paid Rs 5 lakh, while an oocyte (egg) donor earns anywhere between Rs 75,000 to Rs 1 lakh per donation. The additional cost of food and medicine for the surrogate is also borne by the prospective parents.
