Eye on ageing population, Haryana govt to regulate retirement housing projects
The retirement housing policy of the Nayab Singh Saini government has been formulated in the backdrop of the increasing trend of nuclear families. The policy underscores the need for “development of commercially-viable and professionally-managed retirement housing projects”.
“Living independently from their families and being aged, and in many cases infirm, the senior citizens are likely to be vulnerable to the breach of contract and violation of their basic rights by developers/service providers who build and operate them. Hence, the need for a policy for the regulated development of retirement housing projects to address the needs of the senior citizens who are able and willing to pay for such accommodation, services and facilities,” a notification issued by the government has said.
Under the policy, a maximum ground coverage of only 40% is allowed, with the rest of the area to be used for medical and recreational facilities aimed at the "holistic development" of the inmates.
Special mandatory features included a 24x7 on-site ambulance service, basic first aid and medical facility, tie-up with emergency facilities of nearby super-specialty hospital, emergency room with provision of accommodating one or two patients with attendants, pharmacy tie-up for medicines for doorstep delivery and wheelchair facility.
The service providers are mandated to provide jogging, walking tracks with non-slippery and non-skid surfaces, efficient signage and yoga/physiotherapy facilities, trained security personnel, CCTV camera and emergency fire-fighting and disaster preparedness, besides easy access to emergency contact numbers. Also, all facilities/fixtures, especially in kitchens and bathrooms, should be senior citizen-friendly.
A tripartite agreement will be signed among the allottee (senior citizen), developer and the service provider before taking possession of the dwelling unit/apartment. A "monitoring committee" under the DC concerned, with representatives from developers, service provider and Residents Welfare Association (RWA), shall be "responsible for regular coordination and resolution of the issues arising between the residents and the service providers".
These projects would be regulated by various provisions of the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) Act and Haryana Apartment Act, 1983, for compliance with the existing provisions of the law.
Projects must have…
- 24x7 on-site ambulance service, basic first aid and medical facility tie-up with emergency facilities of nearby super-specialty hospital
- Emergency room with provision of accommodation, pharmacy tie-up for medicines for doorstep delivery & wheelchair facility
- Jogging, walking tracks with non-slippery, non-skid surfaces; efficient signage yoga/physiotherapy facilities
- Trained security personnel, CCTV camera and emergency fire-fighting and disaster preparedness, access to emergency contact numbers
- Facilities/fixtures in kitchens and bathrooms must be senior citizen-friendly
