What happened: Government circulated Model Guidelines for retirement homes
The Government of India circulated the Model Guidelines for the Development and Regulation of Retirement Homes to all States and Union Territories. The stated objective is to promote safe, accessible and dignified living conditions for senior citizens by providing a comprehensive reference framework for establishment, operation and regulation of retirement homes.
Background and earlier position: Land and colonisation are State subjects; Centre prepared a reference framework
The written reply in the Rajya Sabha stated that Land and Colonization are State subjects under Entry 18 of List II of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution. In the context of growing demand for quality residential facilities for the elderly, the Ministry prepared Model Guidelines to support States and Union Territories in developing their own policies and regulatory mechanisms for retirement homes.
What changed now: Infrastructure and emergency-response standards plus alignment with RERA
The Model Guidelines prescribe essential standards intended to make retirement homes elderly-friendly and safer for independent living. The standards highlighted in the written reply include wheelchair-accessible ramps and lifts, wide corridors with handrails, uninterrupted water supply, power backup facilities, ambulance services, and in-apartment panic alarm systems for prompt emergency response.
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