Townships for Senior Citizens on the Cards in Haryana
“Mini townships” catering to every need of the senior citizens, including medical facilities, are in Haryana, with the BJP-JJP government unveiling a policy aimed at developing exclusive retirement housing projects. “With an ever-increasing ageing population and increasing trend of nuclear families, there is an emergent need for the development of commercially viable and professionally managed retirement housing projects,” AK Singh, Principal Secretary, Town and Country Planning, said while notifying the policy. The new policy was the initiative of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who wanted regulated development of retirement housing projects for senior citizens willing to pay for such accommodation and facilities. Under the policy, the developer would have to mandatorily provide medical services, including 24x7 on-site ambulance, emergency medical room, regular medical check-up, pharmacy tie-up with doorstep medicine delivery and wheelchair facility. Yoga, physiotherapy and exercise centre will also have to be provided within the residential complex. To take care of the security concerns, alarm system in all rooms and common areas, emergency alarm and light control, free intercom facility, CCTVs and deployment of the properly-trained security personnel would be ensured. Besides, the basic design of the residential complex, including corridors, lifts and ramps, bathrooms, bedrooms, open areas and parks, would be senior citizen-friendly. While all facilities would be provided to the senior citizens under one residential complex, transport and mobility assistance, including pick-up and drop facility for nearby locations and e-carts for internal movement, will be provided by the developer/service providers.