The Hindu Business Line : Home care for senior citizens — LIC arm scouting for project site in South

LIC HFL Care Homes Ltd, the fully-owned subsidiary of LIC HFL (LIC Home Finance Ltd), is hopeful of commencing its pilot project — a community care project for senior citizens — within the next couple of months.

The Director and Chief Executive of LIC HFL Care Homes Ltd, Mr B.N. Samal, told Business Line that the company hoped to get the pilot project started somewhere in the South other than Mumbai.

"We have approached the State Governments of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Kerala for helping us get the land. We are yet to identify the place. Andhra Pradesh Government has evinced keen interest and has assured help in finding a suitable site. In Karnataka, the State Government did not get involved directly but have entrusted the work to a renowned educational group. We are of course, availing of our parent company's network in finding a suitable site in other places," he said.

The LIC HFL's home care venture, though initiated almost nine months ago, is yet to commence its maiden project. Mr Samal pointed out that the company was not looking for a plumb spot within the city limits, but a site on the outskirts and within reach of medical facilities. "We are only looking for a calm, clean environment. But land conversion is a problem. Most of them on the periphery are agricultural lands and cannot be used otherwise. We have identified one place at New Mumbai. As soon as we get the land, we will get started," he said.

He said that the company hoped to get one such community project started for the aged in each State, initially. It is looking for a 10-acre site for each of its project, which could house 50 to 100 members. "The residential complexes would be designed specifically for the senior citizens with all central facilities including a common kitchen, dining, yoga and meditation hall, nursing facility etc."

On the cost of housing senior citizens, Mr Samal said the company proposed to have more than one option, such as a capital investment made by the prospective applicant, which could be treated as a fixed deposit or being billed for the monthly expense. He made it clear that the proposed venture could be run for charity. Without committing further he said `it is meant for those who can afford'.

According to him, within a year of acquiring the land, the project would get started.

A detailed study made by the company had indicated that there would be a rising need for such community care centres for the aged in the coming years, considering the increase in life span.

`Kerala is a potential centre for initiating such project, because most of them leave for the Gulf or other far off destinations to eke out a living, and the aged parents are left without proper care. We are looking at this venture, more as a social obligation," he added.

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