Abstract
This paper employs a critical lens rooted in neoliberalism to scrutinize the stark dichotomy surrounding the female reproductive organ, 'womb'. On the one hand, it is commodified for commercial purposes through surrogacy, while on the other hand, procedures like 'hysterectomy' are promoted as solutions to complications arising from menstruation or unwanted pregnancies, often interfering with women's demanding lives as labourers to enhance productivity. Utilizing a case study approach, this research delves into the experiences of migrant workers hailing from Beed district in Maharashtra and the underlying cases leading to surrogacy reforms aiming to protect the vulnerable groups highlighting the gaps in the present Surrogacy Regulation Act 2021 (SRA), Surrogacy (Regulation) Rules, 2022 and recent amendments which have failed to do justice to all stakeholders. Further, the study aims to uncover the challenges, gender dynamics, and socio-economic disparities that contribute to the marginalization and segregation faced by women from underprivileged background. Residing amidst economic deprivation, the lives of poor working women are characterized by precariousness and exploitative circumstances often silencing or misleading them into oppressive systems jeopardising their mental, physical, and reproductive health. These harsh realities prompt crucial inquiries into reproductive justice, shedding light on how feminist perspectives in neoliberal states have failed to address reproductive injustices. In particular, the study advocates the need for a more nuanced understanding of the intersectionality of gender, economic disparity, and education in shaping the lived experiences of these vulnerable populations.