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While retirement homes for the elderly are commonplace in the US, they are a new, and growing, phenomenon in India. Reporter Elliot Hannon visits one of the newly constructed Indian retirement communities to see who’s moving in. (Photos: Elliot Hannon)
Hannon: If you stand in the middle of the Ustav Ashiana retirement complex, there’s a certain sense of déjà vu.
Fountains tumble in manicured gardens. Gray haired retirees shuffle along on afternoon walks. Inside the activity center, card players pair up in the early evening. And elderly spectators gather as a ping pong rally heats up.
Hannon: While it may seem like a Florida retirement village with its leisurely pace … this one is located two hours south of New Delhi in the Indian state of Rajastha. And the 600-unit complex has a few features you won’t find in Ft. Lauderdale.
Small speakers around the courtyard send soothing mantras into the night air. They are part of the mediation centers provided for the residents. For the more devout, a Hindu temple has nightly services.
Hannon: Until recently, you wouldn’t find retirement communities like this one in India. This is a country where people are supposed to care for the parents who raised them. It’s part of the deal. But the terms of that deal are starting to change, says Jitender Datta. He owns a condo at the Ustav and splits his time between India and Baltimore, Maryland.
Datta: 30, 40 years back we could never think that should have a separate place for retirement but now because of the new dynamics of the country for the last 15 years, I think it’s changing, changing a lot. Even your kids, they don’t want to stay in the same city because they got a better job somewhere else. Just like in the US.
Hannon: As the economy in India has taken off, so have young job seekers, moving from villages to cities, and from Indian cities to capitals around the world. The new economic climate in the country has meant better paying opportunities – and more of them. But it also means late hours at the office or graveyard shifts working for Western companies.
All those changes have affected Indian families. And it’s sparked a new market for retirees in India. Varun Gupta is the Director of Ashiana Housing Limited.
Gupta: In 2000, we got serious, we saw the economy change, we saw in our projects in Bhiwadi where were normal group housing, that senior citizens were buying in to the projects.
Hannon: Sensing a growing and untapped market, Ashiana built one of the country’s first retirement homes. The very wealthy could already afford to outfit their houses and lives for old age. So Ashiana took aim at a less affluent market and affordability was key, says Gupta. A one bedroom condo at the Ustav runs about $ 40,000. That may seem like a great deal in the US but it’s still out of reach for most Indians.
Ashiana opened the Ustav in 2004. Sales got off to a slow start but gradually newspaper ads and word of mouth paid off. And the company sold all 600 units. So it started building two more complexes. For Gupta, that’s just the beginning:
Gupta: We have a plan to get in to ten retirement communities over the next two years. There’s huge potential. It should be about $ 10 billion in terms of real estate value in demand and supply very limited.
Hannon: In the late evening at the Ustav, 50 residents file into a right hall for a social gathering, the men are decked out in suits and ties and the women are draped with brightly colored saris. They look at ease as they shout over each other to answer trivia questions. And as they debate how to answer: who is the creator of the universe in Hindu mythology, it’s hard not to think – who needs Florida.
For the World, I’m Elliot Hannon in New Delhi.
What an interesting story. Never thought that would happen in India. Is China next?
Hannon: As the economy in India has taken of
you mean “off”
your faithful reader (and future copyeditor?) and retiree as of today. S
Thank you for pointing that out Susan – it has been corrected!
The Ashiana Utsav is just amazing and best place for retired community. It is mere a blessing for the people who contributed a lot to the community but best possible place to enjoy rest of the life.
Its a great priviladge to have these kind of project in india speacialy for Senior Citizen with load of facilities. And Ashiana developing Retirement Resort in other location of india also , which is great Initiative.
One of the nice upcoming retirment communities are in Coimbatore suburbs near western ghat, ample of water, cool temp and lush vegetations year round or Coorg.
Could you tell me more about the Coimbatore and Coorg ones?
Thanks!
The retirement resort is a new phenomenon in Indian concept and has picked up. Gone are the days when seniors were being looked after by elderly ladies at home. Small family norms adopted by the society has resulted to this. To days seniors have more money in their kitty than the seniors 15 years ago and keen to enjoy life after retirement. A novel idea which should do well. Well done Ashiana
ashiana utsav is a beautiful plan for us . it is a great privilege for all indians . i am from north india .after retirement i want to spend my life in ashiana community. for that what i have to do? and how to buy ?
Dear Sir,
We have a Utsav-Retirement Resort at 3 places, Bhiwadi(Delhi NCR), Jaipur & Lavasa(Pune). Sir in which location you are intrested? Please provide your email id to me, so i can forward the details to you.
Yes I have found the very project good, in terms that it deffinatly allows the senior citizen a dignified old age esspecially when he/she does not have any outside support.I am sure he/she will be more comfortable amongst people more or less their age. But I hope the Ashiana group does take care that this does not come with a big hole in the pocket on a day to day basis for the senior citizen who now not in the process of minting money.
When people are young they set examples and when they grow old they become inspiration. It’s great to see this community of inspirators.
Good Stuff!