Life needs security in the evening. Needs the company of people of his age and above all seeks peace. Such townships have started taking shape in the cities, where all these needs of the elderly are fulfilled. Three stages are very important in life. The first is childhood when we are born and remain busy at home till we become adults. After that comes a long phase of life when we settle our family while fulfilling responsibilities. Then there is the transition period of life when we want to free ourselves from all family responsibilities and live for ourselves. This is the time when we look back and evaluate the journey of our life. While fulfilling the responsibility of the family, I want to fulfill the desires which were kept hidden in some chests of my mind.
The age of more than sixty is the right time of life when one can live with a life partner with peace of mind. In such a situation, no one wants that the work that he did throughout his life should be included in his daily routine even in this era. Along with financial freedom, he also wants mental freedom, but without any responsibility. He doesn't want his bathroom tap to get damaged so find a plumber or find the number of an electrician to get an electric plug fixed. He should not be dependent on anyone and should do whatever he wants to do.
This desire cannot be called wrong in any way. This is the reason why in this era of modernity, the attitude of elders towards life is changing. Now they are not so worried about their retirement life. They know that this is a stage where they have no dearth of experiences. He has made preparations for the evening of his life in his youth. From faltering steps in childhood to reaching the heights of glory in youth, he has made himself so strong that there is no fear of old age.
Growing nuclear families
The number of nuclear families is continuously increasing in the country. In such a situation, the demand for retirement housing or retirement villas is increasing in the country on the lines of foreign countries. The population of our country is currently about 1.4 billion, out of which 10.1 percent of the population is the elderly, that is, the population of people above 60 years of age. According to NSO data, in the year 2021, the population of the elderly in the country was 13 crore 80 lakh, which will increase by 41 percent to 19 crore 40 lakh in the next decade.
Sense of belonging
Narrating his experience, a senior citizen living in one such township in Lavasa, Maharashtra, said that he had spent most of his life in Chennai. Then moved to Mumbai due to his son's new job posting. But the rent in Mumbai is very high and the busyness there was not even livable for a person of his age. Children often used to travel abroad in connection with work.
Eventually, he decided to sell his Chennai property and buy a retirement villa in Lavasa. In 2013, Ashiana moved into a 1,550-square-foot apartment in Utsav, surrounded by the lush green hills of the Western Ghats. Everything they need is here. Even if the wife is not in the mood to cook, she goes to the cafeteria. Children also come on weekends, so it doesn't feel like living separately from them.
Form of business
Vedanta Brindavanam is a blissful retirement community at Keenathukhadavu, Coimbatore, which has been running successfully for the last many years. Nestled in the valleys of the Western Ghats, this retirement villa provides all kinds of facilities to the elderly. Along the lines of this, real estate businessmen in other parts of the country have now started paying attention to such townships.
In the early times, it was limited to Rishikesh, Banaras, and some religious cities but was not so convenient. Now this idea is getting expanded continuously. A few years ago, Ankur Gupta of Ashiana Housing, who runs similar projects, had asked where to live after retirement. There has been a lot of change in this idea. Now senior citizens are more independent and relaxed than before. Their mindset is changing and they want to have a better time in this phase of life. Residential facilities are being provided in these townships. His children are also happy because of this. These townships have everything from clubhouses, dining, activity halls, reading rooms, yoga homes, bill payment services, medical aid, movie theaters, and swimming pools.
Business arrangement
Special arrangements have also been made for the retired people living in these townships and colonies to keep themselves busy. Gardening clubs have been formed where they keep themselves busy according to their interest. By adopting some nearby villages, they also do public service there. Retired doctors treat people and those who were associated with education now give coaching there. Along with this, the villagers also shared their experiences regarding cleanliness.
(PC: Freepik)
