Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

<keyword id="142169" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="VAS">VAS</keyword> or Value added services have faced a deep slump in the market with the emergence of Over-The-Top (OTT) services. Operators do accept that the entire structure of VAS has been turned upside down because of this. “MVAS or Mobile Value Added Services are dead... There was a time when people bought cricket scores. Now it is easily available online. Why would anyone buy it?” said <keyword id="372268" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rahul-Joshi">Rahul Joshi</keyword>, National VAS, Enterprise Head, <keyword id="71055" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="MTS">MTS</keyword> India at the 16th VAS Asia, International Conference and Exhibition. 

	So what is the next big thing in VAS which the big shots of IT and Telecom industry are betting on? Hear it from the experts themselves.
 

	MTS
 

	Mobile innovation is the next big thing.
 

	“Growth will come from data coupled with apps,” said Rahul.
 

	AIRCEL
 

	Aircel is betting on Geo-Location as it is a big challenge for VAS where OTT has beaten them almost.
 

	“When it would be easy enough for customers to find out what he wants. And, how closely can we find out what the customers want? When we achieve these two, we would feel we are at home,” said Reena Rathi, Business Head, VAS, Aircel Limited.
 <keyword id="2942865" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="MoMagic">MoMagic</keyword> 

	MoMagic is focusing on consolidation of VAS services.
 “From user’s point of view, they don’t want to go to multiple places for different purposes. Consolidation has to happen. For example, through a messenger, one must be able to chat, book a flight, see videos, book a restaurant and so on; more of an API-driven service,” said <keyword id="168741" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Arun-Gupta">Arun Gupta</keyword>, CEO and founder of MoMagic. 

	MICROMAX
 

	Payment is the next big thing. 
 “How easily can one pay? We have repeatedly failed with VAS retail cards,” said <keyword id="23353" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="manoj-kumar">Manoj Kumar</keyword> Gupta, Head-VAS, Micromax 

	The next best thing is advertising.
 

	“If we could get the brands to sponsor the experiences for the customers, like through a sponsored view or a sponsored click, VAS would benefit largely,” he added.

	 
	(Image credits: bharatexhibitions)

What is the next big thing in VAS: Hear it from the industry
experts

New Delhi, Dec 18 (IANS) India is seeing a significant rise in cases of non communicable diseases like <keyword id="6364492" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="obesity" source="Orion">obesity</keyword>, diabetes, <keyword id="22984" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="hypertension" source="Orion">hypertension</keyword> among children. Health experts on Monday blamed the surge on ever-increasing consumption of junk food that is loaded with excess and unhealthy sugar, salt and fat. Speaking to IANS, Dr Sathya Sriram, CEO - Preventive Health, Apollo, shared that among Indian children there has been a notable increase in obesity, <keyword id="189815" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="pre-diabetes" source="Orion">pre-diabetes</keyword>, <keyword id="519596" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="fatty-liver-disease" source="Orion">fatty liver disease</keyword>, and hypertension -- “with obesity cases tripling and hypertension quadrupling in the past five years”. These diseases, which were till a decade ago, largely associated with adulthood, are now increasing “in an age group we have never considered in the past. At Apollo, we have observed that the rate of incidence of NCDs (diabetes, obesity, hypertension, etc.) has nearly doubled in children between 5-17 years of age over the past decade”. Dr Sriram noted that 5-17 years is an age group where there should ‘technically and historically’ not be a growing impact of lifestyle diseases. However Apollo’s data, based on an analysis of nearly 10,000 screenings across walk-ins and campus outreach, showed 17 per cent prediabetes cases -- projecting a potentially early onset of diabetes as they step into adulthood. The incidence of diabetes was also found to have doubled in these ages over the past 5 years -- from 1.37 per cent in 2018 to 3.68 per cent in 2023 across a nearly similar sample size, as indicated by HbA1C levels. Similarly, the data also showed hypertension cases in children as young as 7-year-olds, which is roughly 6 per cent of those screened, Dr Sriram said. A sedentary lifestyle and genetic predisposition are important risk factors. But, Dr Arun Gupta, a paediatrician and Convener of Nutrition Advocacy in Public Interest (NAPi) -- a national think-tank on nutrition, blames the surge on rising childhood obesity, majorly caused by the increased consumption of junk or ultra processed foods (UPF). “Obesity is a precursor for the non-communicable diseases like diabetes, hypertension and cancer,” he told IANS. He cited the National Family Health Surveys (NFHS) 3,4 and 5, which shows obesity is quickly rising in children and adult men and women. This can also be seen in the context of the growth of the ultra processed food industry in India, said Dr Gupta. A recent World Health Organization (WHO) report showed that in India, the UPF industry grew at a compound annual growth rate of 13.37 per cent in terms of retail sales value between 2011 and 2021. It is expected that UPF would expand more quickly than staple foods. The doctor added that even the families are not bothered about what the children are eating. “For example, biscuits are a very common junk food. While it seems unharmful, it contains salt, sugar and fats more than the WHO recommendations for daily intake. Lack of awareness on the risk it poses can explain why its consumption is rising among kids,” he told IANS. Dr Sriram also highlighted the rise of mental health concerns such as anxiety and depression in children, which is further intensified by social and environmental factors. “Lifestyle shifts towards greater screen time are not only leading to orthopaedic issues but also contributing to learning problems in children,” he told IANS. “Beyond non-communicable diseases and early mental health issues, a variety of conditions including vitamin and nutritional deficiencies, functional changes, and vision and hearing problems are important factors that can share a child’s future health. "These conditions, if unmanaged, can lead to serious complications and affect life quality and longevity,” Dr Sriram said. Dr Gupta called for “strict and clear regulation” on UPFs. “It would be a good step if children are encouraged to eat real food in their school canteen,” he said, noting that it will then also be extended at family level. Dr Sriram advised parents to make health check-ups a routine part of children, instead of waiting for illness. “These check-ups are essential not just for disease prevention but also for ensuring your child's overall well-being and peak performance in all areas of life,” he said.

More diabetics, BP patients among 5-17 year olds. Is junk food the reason?

New Delhi, Jun 9 () A Delhi Medical Association (DMA) delegation met city Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Tuesday to discuss the coronavirus situation in the national capital, officials said. The delegation included DMA president Dr Girish Tyagi, secretary Dr Arvind Chopra, Dr Arun Gupta and members of the medical body's task force. "The minister asked the DMA to join hands with the government in this hour of crisis," the medical body said in a statement. The number of coronavirus cases has surged in the national capital in the last several days. Delhi recorded 1,007 fresh coronavirus cases on Monday, taking the COVID-19 tally in the city past the 29,000-mark, and the death toll due to the disease mounted to 874. "A large number of beds will be created in various hotels, banquet halls, community halls etc. in joint collaboration, where the DMA will take care of the manpower and the government will provide infrastructure and other essential things. A detailed plan is being worked out," the medical body said. However, there was no official version on this arrangement from the city government. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the national capital had recently ordered to open shopping malls and restaurants from Monday with safety norms in place, but kept on reserve the banquet halls and community halls, predicting a need for a large number of beds in the coming weeks for the growing number of coronavirus patients. The current doubling rate of coronavirus transmission is 14 days in Delhi and by that estimation, it will see over 56,000 cases in two weeks, Jain had said on Monday. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Tuesday said it is estimated that there may be 5.5 lakh coronavirus cases in the city by July 31. Delhi will need 80,000 beds by July-end, he told reporters after a meeting of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA). KND RC

COVID-19: DMA delegation meets Delhi health min, says will assist govt

<ul class="summary-list"><li>On Tuesday at the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/amazon-web-services">Amazon Web Services</a> re:Invent conference, AWS CEO <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/andy-jassy">Andy Jassy</a> made a jab at <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/ibm">IBM</a> and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/oracle">Oracle</a>.</li><li>Jassy presented a slide of a moving truck with <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/amazon-prime">Amazon Prime</a> boxes inside, while a box labeled "Oracle" and an IBM mainframe were left behind in the driveway of the house.</li><li>Jassy compared this to updating applications to the cloud and moving away from legacy data centers and mainframes.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.</a></li></ul>At Amazon's mega-cloud conference on Tuesday, Amazon Web Services CEO Andy Jassy made a jab at rivals IBM and Oracle.For years, AWS has been helping its customers move from their legacy data centers <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-eases-restrictions-words-microsoft-google-reinvent-2019-11">to Amazon's cloud</a>. At the AWS re:Invent conference in Las Vegas, Jassy spoke about updating these applications as he presented a slide showing a moving truck in front of a house. The moving truck was filled with several Amazon Prime boxes.Meanwhile, in the driveway in front of the house, there were several boxes and objects left behind - including a box labeled with Oracle's logo and an IBM mainframe."When you're going to move, you have to decide what will you bring and what will you leave behind," Jassy said onstage.Jassy said that this is what companies have been asking about their on-premise data centers for years. He also said that many companies today still use mainframe computers, but "people don't want to use mainframes.""Companies are trying to move as quickly as they can away from mainframe," Jassy said.Last quarter, AWS reported that its business <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-reports-third-quarter-earnings-q3-2019-10">generated $9 billion</a> in revenue. On Monday at the conference, AWS announced its first quantum computing service called <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/aws-quantum-computing-service-amazon-braket-reinvent-2019-12">Amazon Braket</a>, jumping into the quantum computing industry where IBM, as well as Microsoft, Intel, and Google are already building computers.Got a tip? Contact this reporter via email at <a href="mailto:rmchan@businessinsider.com">rmchan@businessinsider.com</a>, Signal at 646.376.6106, Telegram at @rosaliechan, or Twitter DM at <a href="https://twitter.com/rosaliechan17">@rosaliechan17</a>. (PR pitches by email only, please.) Other types of secure messaging available upon request. You can also <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-tip-business-insider-securely-guide-signal-securedrop-2017-6">contact Business Insider securely via SecureDrop</a>.Get the latest IBM stock price<a href="http://markets.businessinsider.com/stock/ibm-Quote"> here.</a>

Amazon's cloud boss mocked IBM and Oracle at its big conference with a clever picture showing Amazon Prime shipping boxes

New Delhi, Jun 3 () As the coronavirus cases continue to spiral in the national capital, the Delhi government has set up a five-member panel to strengthen the healthcare infrastructure in the city and look into the overall preparedness of hospitals to battle the pandemic, officials said on Wednesday. Delhi recorded 1,513 fresh cases, the highest spike so far, taking the tally to 23,645, while the death toll rose to 606, according to a health bulletin. The officials said that there are 8,386 COVID-19 dedicated beds in the city hospitals, of which 3,446 are occupied. Of the 408 ventilators dedicated for COVID-19 patients, 255 are being used for patients. The newly-formed committee will guide the Delhi government on healthcare infrastructure augmentation and overall preparedness of the hospitals to battle COVID-19, they said. The members of the panel are Dr. Mahesh Verma, the vice-chancellor of IP University; Dr. Sunil Kumar, the medical director of GTB Hospital; Dr. Arun Gupta, president of Delhi Medical Council; Dr. R K Gupta, former president of Delhi Medical Association; and Dr. Sandeep Budhiraja, the group medical director of Max Hospital, according to an official order. The panel will also guide the government on any other area where strengthening of infrastructure is required to better manage the pandemic in Delhi. The daily spike in cases has been upwards of 1,100 for last several days while the total number of containment zones has risen to 158. Delhi has the highest number of cases after Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said the complete lockdown has helped the Delhi government in strengthening the city's health infrastructure to effectively battle COVID-19. Addressing the "Cities Against COVID19 - Global Summit 2020" via video conference on Wednesday, he mentioned key measures adopted by the Delhi government to contain the spread of the dreaded virus. The summit was attended by mayors and experts from 21 cities, including Moscow, Jakarta, Istanbul, Budapest, Tehran, Tel Aviv, Buenos Aires, Vancouver and Chongqing. "As Delhi got its first COVID-19 positive case on March 2, it was very important to curb the spread of the disease. The total lockdown enabled us to spread awareness about the virus among the citizens and strengthen our health infrastructure to effectively battle the disease," he said. The deputy chief minister said the government has adequate medical facilities to deal with coronavirus cases. He said the Delhi government's relief teams have been working round the clock to provide meals to almost a million people twice a day. "Delhi plans to restore economic activity safely in a phased manner," the deputy chief minister said. Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party claimed that the Centre-run (Ram Manohar Lohia) RML Hospital was giving out "erroneous" COVID-19 test results and violating government norms of submitting them within 48 hours. Addressing a press conference here, AAP spokesperson Raghav Chadha said the Delhi government re-tested 30 samples from the RML Hospital which were declared COVID-19 positive. He said 12 of these samples were found to be negative and the results of two samples were inconclusive. "As per the protocol and to maintain the certainty of the tests, the Delhi government checks the test results of the hospitals by re-testing some samples time and again. Recently, the Delhi government took 30 samples from RML Hospital which were declared to be positive (by the hospital) and sent for re-testing. "You will be surprised to know that the result of 12 samples out of the 30 came negative and results for two samples were inconclusive," he said. No immediate reaction was available from the hospital. KND VIT UZM PR RT RT

As coronavirus cases spiral, Delhi govt forms 5-member panel to strengthen health infra in city

New Delhi, Jun 6 () In view of a surge in coronavirus cases, a panel formed by the Delhi government has suggested that the city's health infrastructure should be used only for treating its residents, sources said on Saturday even as Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal warned hospitals of stern action if they refuse COVID-19 patients or indulge in "black-marketing" of beds. With 1,320 more people testing positive, the total number of coronavirus cases has increased to 27,654 in the national capital, according to the daily health bulletin. The death toll has risen to 761. There are 16,229 active cases. The Delhi Health Department also lodged an FIR against the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital (SGRH) for allegedly violating COVID-19 regulation norms. Addressing an online media briefing, Kejriwal said the Delhi government will depute medical professionals in each private hospital to ensure patients are aware of beds available and they are admitted without any hassle. The chief minister also rubbished claims that COVID-19 tests have been stopped in Delhi, and asserted that the number of tests conducted in the city is the highest in the country. He, however, said the testing capacity is limited and it will be overwhelmed if everyone went for the test, adding that asymptomatic persons should not go for it. The suggestion on using Delhi's health infrastructure came from a five-member panel in the backdrop of Delhi recording over 1,000 fresh coronavirus cases daily for the past few days and the AAP government fending off allegations of lack of hospital beds and other facilities. The panel, headed by Indraprastha University vice-chancellor Dr Mahesh Verma, has submitted its report to the government in which it has said that if Delhi health infrastructure is open for non-residents, all beds will be occupied within just three days, according to the sources. An official said that the government will soon take a decision on the report of the panel, constituted earlier this week. The other members of the panel are: Dr Sunil Kumar, the medical director of GTB Hospital; Dr Arun Gupta, president of Delhi Medical Council; Dr R K Gupta, former president of Delhi Medical Association; and Dr Sandeep Budhiraja, the group medical director of Max Hospital. On the capacity of hospitals, Kejriwal said some hospitals are lying about their availability of beds. "False refusal cannot be tolerated and admitting coronavirus patients is non-negotiable," he said. "We have been calling and meeting the heads of all these hospitals since yesterday and they are being told that there will be no negotiations in the treatment of people in their hospitals as they have to admit the people who are in need. "We will take strong action against such hospitals and they cannot refuse patients. Some time will be needed to break the mafia who are indulging in it. These few hospitals have a political approach but they should not be under the illusion that their political masters can save them," he said. Private hospitals are a critical part of the city's health infrastructure and the Delhi government acknowledges their role, he added. "There are some private hospitals which are resorting to such means. First they say they don't have bed and when patients insist, they demand a huge amount. Isn't this black-marketing of beds?" he asked. The chief minister said the Delhi government had to face a backlash from hospitals for providing the information on availability of beds and ventilators on an app launched on Tuesday. Kejriwal said coronavirus testing has not been stopped and currently 36 government and private labs are doing the tests. Action was taken against six labs for irregularities, he said. "There are flu clinics of Delhi government hospitals and some private ones, there are COVID centres where you can go for tests. Even today, 5300 samples were tested," he said. The Delhi government's priority for now is to save lives, he added. On the FIR registered by the Delhi Health Department against SGRH, the complainant, who is a Delhi government official, alleged that the hospital was not using RT-PCR app while collecting COVID-19 samples. As per the guidelines, it is "mandatory" for labs to collect samples through RT-PCR app, it said. The official has alleged that the hospital had violated the COVID-19 regulation norms, as specified under the Epidemic Diseases Act 1897. There was no immediate reaction from the hospital. The fresh fatalities include a 30-year-old Delhi Police constable. His report came positive for the COVID-19, days after he died at Safdarjung Hospital here. The constable was posted in northeast district and resided in Mandoli with his family. He was undergoing treatment for lung infection. Earlier three Delhi Police personnel died due to COVID-19. According to police, around 500 personnel have tested positive for the deadly virus so far, of whom 200 have recovered. VIT BUN KND NIT PR RT

Stern action to be taken against hospitals for refusing patients, says Kejriwal; Coronavirus cases rise to over 27,600 in Delhi

Thomson ReutersU.S. President Trump gathers with Republican House members after healthcare bill vote at the White House in WashingtonSenate Republicans released their version of a plan to repeal and replace <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/senate-healthcare-bill-trumpcare-ahca-details-2017-6">Obamacare</a> last week, and it, like the one passed by the House of Representatives, could have a major effect on health tech companies started in recent years.The Senate's plan, like the one passed by the House in May, dismantles many of the provisions of Obamacare, as well cutting funding to the Medicaid program.The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that the plan - titled the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA) - would result in <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-senate-health-bill-would-affect-insurance-coverage-2017-6">22 million fewer people insured by 2026</a> than the current healthcare system.A number of health-tech startups established their businesses under the healthcare rules and environment created by the Affordable Care Act, the law otherwise known as Obamacare. If either the Senate or the House bills pass, it could drastically affect how they operate.<h2>Here's what's at stake</h2><h2>Oscar</h2>Healthify, a startup that works with people on Medicaid and Medicare, got its start in 2015 and now works in 30 states. The company uses technology to identify <a href="http://www.kff.org/disparities-policy/issue-brief/beyond-health-care-the-role-of-social-determinants-in-promoting-health-and-health-equity/">social determinants of health</a> and works with Accountable Care Organizations (networks of doctors and hospitals that share responsibility for your healthcare) to connect patients to everything from housing and food to day care and transportation to improve overall health. ACOs are <a href="http://www.npr.org/2011/04/01/132937232/accountable-care-organizations-explained">an integral part of the ACA</a>.Healthify CEO Manik Bhat told Business Insider that the healthcare reform will put undue pressure on vulnerable people as well as the states to fund these programs that connect people to healthcare.Medicaid, which Healthify works extensively with, covers more than 74 million Americans, including low-income people, families, and kids, as well as pregnant women, people with disabilities, and the elderly. CBO estimates project <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/cbo-medicaid-cuts-772-billion-for-senate-health-bill-obamacare-repeal-2017-6">cuts up to $772 billion over the next decade for the Senate bill</a> and $880 billion for the House bill. That would leave states - which also fund the program - with fewer resources to cover those populations.Quartet Health is a behavioral health startup founded in 2014 that uses data to connect a patient's primary care doctors with his or her mental health professionals to identify co-occurring or related issues.CEO Arun Gupta, told Business Insider that the ACA helped create an environment based around the healthcare outcomes patients actually get that helped the company flourish.The ACA, and a predecessor piece of legislation, the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, provided the foundation that the company is built on. The two laws established that health plans must provide equal benefits for mental health conditions that they do for other medical conditions.Both the AHCA and the BCRA provide states the opportunity to waive some of the "essential health benefits" that healthcare plans must cover, of which mental health coverage is one. However, that would only affect plans in the individual market and Medicaid, not group insurance, which is covered under the 2008 law. Because of that, the GOP's healthcare efforts will likely not have a direct impact on Quartet, Gupta said, though changes to the EHBs, which would happen on state-by-state basis, would affect many of the patients that Quartet works with."The train's left the station on this movement to integrate behavioral healthcare and to reconnect the body and mind and all that, but I think it'd be very sad for people," Gupta said. "They're called essential health benefits for a reason."Not covering preventative healthcare, according to Gupta, ends up costing patients and society as a whole a lot more in the long run. The uncertainty around the national policy, Gupta added, has also led to a standstill for health insurers and providers, which leads to indecision in an already slow-moving sector when it comes to adopting new healthcare programs and technologies.Oscar Health, the $2.7 billion health insurance startup founded in 2012 by Jared Kushner's brother, Joshua, is perhaps the health-tech startup most directly intertwined with the ACA. It was created to sell individual market plans under Obamacare. If either the House or Senate bills become law, it could drastically upend the individual exchanges where Oscar derives most of its customers from.But instead of shying away, the company has been <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/oscar-health-partners-with-cleveland-clinic-2017-6">doubling down</a> by expanding its coverage areas in the past few weeks. Alan Warren, Oscar's chief technology officer told Business Insider in June that the company's been seeing positive signals. "We're seeing things stabilize," he said. "We're confident that when the dust settles, the market for health insurance will stabilize in time for 2018," Oscar CEO Mario Schlosser <a href="https://www.hioscar.com/news/looking-ahead-to-our-2018-map">said in a blog post</a> around the same time. <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/jim-rogers-depressed-markets-like-russia-china-japan-2017-6">JIM ROGERS: I like depressed markets like Russia, China, and Japan</a></h3> Please enable Javascript to watch this video

The GOP healthcare fight is creating a lot of uncertainty around health startups that flourished under Obamacare

<ul><li>India is sitting on a demographic time bomb. People over the age of 60 are expected to account for 25% of India’s <keyword id="48933" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="population">population</keyword> by 2050.</li><li>The concept of <keyword id="2995734" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="senior-living">senior living</keyword> has been gaining traction in recent years owing to the migration of Indians and the breakdown of the joint family model. </li><li>However, most senior care options are mostly geared towards the upper-middle class. The low-cost options leave a lot to be desired. </li></ul> My father was 64 when he had his first heart attack in September 2015. He downplayed the pain and told my brother and I, who were 23 years old at the time, that it was just acidity. We didn’t know better. Four days later, on his 65th birthday, the heart attack led to a stroke, which affected a small part of his brain that dealt with his speech and comprehension. Following his discharge from the hospital, my brother and I worked out an arrangement with our respective employers wherein we worked from home on alternative days so we could take care of him. My father slowly regained his verve and became somewhat self-sufficient by the end of 2015. However, he suffered another stroke and an epileptic seizure in April 2016. After my father suffered a third stroke in February 2017, the idea of putting him in an assisted living facility was floated by my uncle. My brother was living in Bombay by this point and I was spending more time at work so it seemed like the sensible thing to do. The concept of senior living, while relatively new to India, has been gaining traction in recent years and with good reason. There were 103.8 million citizens above the age of 60 in India in 2011, according to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, and the number is expected to reach 143 million by 2021 and 173 million by 2026. Concurrently, as nuclear families are in vogue, the safety net afforded to old people by the joint family model is disintegrating. India has also seen a wave of migration in the last few decades as young people have gone to big metros as well as foreign countries in search of better opportunities, leaving their parents behind. More and more old people are living alone- which makes them vulnerable to <a href="https://www.firstpost.com/india/increase-in-crimes-against-senior-citizens-in-chennai-forces-them-to-shift-to-retirement-homes-3109622.html">crime</a> and depression. And the problem will only get worse. People over the age of 60 are expected to account for 25% of India’s population by 2050. India’s emerging market counterparts like Brazil and China are also sitting on a similar demographic time-bomb resulting from decades of exponential economic growth, improved health outcomes and stretched budgets. While Western countries like the US and UK started laying the foundational groundwork for their senior care industries in the latter half of the 20th century, BRIC countries only began developing an industrial framework to address the problem in the recent past - that too, by encouraging foreign participation and co-opting the western model of senior living which marries real estate development with at-home care. The Senior Care Act The Indian government has made some noticeable interventions but they haven’t produced the desired results. For example, in 2007, there government of India passed the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and <keyword id="20566" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="senior-citizens">Senior Citizens</keyword> Act. The act requires children to take care of their parents in <keyword id="6378960" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="old-age">old age</keyword>. It also mandates the establishment of old age homes by state governments. The act has failed on both fronts. Senior citizens neither have the knowledge of their rights or the will to take their children to court. As of mid-2017, only 360 homes had been built by state governments with central funding under the Integrated Programme for Older Persons (IPOP), according to data from the social justice ministry. India’s private sector takes the lead However, India’s private sector has spotted the gap in the market, taking inspiration from the US’s $300 billion senior living industry. By 2013, India had 30 assisted living projects in India, with another 30 in the pipeline, according to Jones Lang Lasalle, a commercial real estate firm. There are a number of developers building “retirement resorts” in North India to cater to the high-end segment. Max India, a <keyword id="6354525" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="healthcare">healthcare</keyword> giant, has a 200-block senior living facility called Antara on the outskirts of the city of Dehradun. Pitched as the confluence of lifestyle and life care, the community boasts state-of-the-art medical facilities with in-house doctors as well as a a fitness centre, which includes a gym, spa and a swimming pool. Prices for a property here start at a cool $300,000. However, the senior living trend actually took flight in south Indian states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, where a large number of non-resident Indians (NRI) hail from, before spreading to the North. In recognition of their high purchasing power, Covai Care, a Coimbatore-based developer, launched S3 Retirement Homes, one of India’s first retirement projects, according to its general manager, S Prabhakar, in 2007 to cater to this market. While the senior living market has doubled since then, says Prabhakar, it is still in a nascent stage. Covai Care primarily offers three forms of care facilities for its residents- assisted care for senior residents, palliative care for terminally ill patients and memory care for patients with dementia or Alzheimer's with properties in Bangalore, Mysore, Coimbatore and Pondicherry. The properties don’t come cheap either. With prices ranging from $60,000 to $150,000 depending on size, residents also have to pay around $270-$300 a month for medical and maintenance fees. Prabhakar maintains that these costs are in line with the average cost of living for these patients anyway. He also expects the demand for these properties to be robust, citing the increase in life expectancy and growing trend of senior citizens who crave independence. The middle ground India is striving to create cheaper offerings for the middle class too. Arun Gupta, the chief executive of Age Ventures India (AVI), a non-profit organisation that petitions builders to develop properties, echoes Mr Prabhakar’s beliefs about the industry’s prospects. “The senior citizen population is growing at a rate of 3.8% per annum, while the overall population of India is growing at 1.8%” he says. For a small consulting fee, AVI works with developers to build elder care homes and communities by sharing best practices and identifying project locations. These homes are modestly priced, with a 1BHK unit starting at $22,500 at the organisation’s first project in Bangalore. Ashiana Housing, a Delhi-based real estate developer, pitches its retirement communities to the middle class in tier-1 and tier-2 cities . The price ranges between $45,000 million and $100,000 for the units, and that demand for them follows the same pattern as the housing market. Amit Dogra, the sales manager for Ashiana's senior living segment, doesn’t think much of India’s cultural aversion to old age homes. “98% of our residents chose senior living independently. They were not forced by their children.” Abhishek Mohanty, a facility design and marketing consultant at Epoch Elder Care, feels otherwise. “Social stigma, especially from relatives, is more of a problem than affordability”, he says. “This is why we target higher-net-worth individuals and NRIs as they are more open to the idea of senior living and are willing to spend the money”. Founded in 2011, Epoch Elder Care originally started as a provider of home care services and personnel before transitioning into the assisted living space. It follows a rental model, entailing a one-time deposit and monthly rental fee, which is better suited to middle class customers. Epoch has three retirement homes with monthly fees of $1,800 for short-term single occupancy guests and $1,350 for long-term guests, which excludes the rather-high 18% GST rate on senior living. Around 60% of Epoch’s residents are dementia patients, which limits the amount of residents per facility. Mohanty is optimistic about his company’s prospects given the country’s increasing awareness about dementia and the growing number of senior citizens. By 2022, Epoch plans to have as many as 12 facilities, with an average of around 50 guests each, operating all over India. The sense of stigma attached to senior living, while declining, is still a consideration for the relatively well-off. Rachna (name changed), a corporate lawyer in her 40s, says that the decision to send her father to a retirement home outside Gurgaon last year was not an easy one. “My friends felt that I was relinquishing my sense of duty,” she said, “and my father likened the experience to being sent to jail”. However, she feels that it was the best option since she and her husband had full-time jobs and two teenage children to take care off. Now, her father, a former stroke victim and arthritis patient, benefits from round-the-clock care and companionship in the facility. No respite at the bottom Senior living seems to be an effective solution for people who can afford it, but for the hundreds of millions that can’t, their options are few and far between. At the lower end of the spectrum, the government-operated old age homes, which feature dormitories instead of rooms, are understaffed and in a deplorable condition, according to Matthew Cherian, the chief executive of HelpAge India. There are a number of cheaper nursing homes that are run by private owners, however quality is still an issue given the lack of government-imposed industry standards. And some of these also operate without licenses and accreditation. In 2012, <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/68-nursing-homes-dont-have-licences/articleshow/13238672.cms">68 nursing homes </a>were found to be operating illegally in Pune. A variety of non-profit organisations like HelpAge India also run and support old age homes, but the supply of beds in such homes is drastically outweighed by the number of people that need them. As I write this, it’s been more than 13 months since my father’s last stroke. He’s in good spirits. He’s been eating well and going for walks every evening with other senior citizens in our gated community in Gurgaon. He has moved past his initial resistance and softened his stance towards senior living facilities, in anticipation of my eventual departure from home. “If I have to go one day, I’ll go”, he says. “Maybe I can get my friends to come with me too”. If only other Indians like him had the same option.

You Searched For "Arun Gupta" and got 8 results

What is the next big thing in VAS: Hear it from the industry experts

Usha Rani Das

More diabetics, BP patients among 5-17 year olds. Is junk food the reason?

IANS

COVID-19: DMA delegation meets Delhi health min, says will assist govt

PTI

Amazon's cloud boss mocked IBM and Oracle at its big conference with a clever picture showing Amazon Prime shipping boxes

Rosalie Chan

As coronavirus cases spiral, Delhi govt forms 5-member panel to strengthen health infra in city

PTI

Stern action to be taken against hospitals for refusing patients, says Kejriwal; Coronavirus cases rise to over 27,600 in Delhi

PTI

The GOP healthcare fight is creating a lot of uncertainty around health startups that flourished under Obamacare

Lydia Ramsey

Here's what the future of the senior living industry looks like for 25% of India’s population

Dilsher Dhillon

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides