Coimbatore, the Manchester of South India seems to be gradually gaining the tag of Pensioner’s hub as well. So, what gives?

“It has to definitely do with the culture of the city. People here are very cordial and hospitable and they are ready to welcome people from other parts of the country. Unlike the metros, Coimbatore is not over-crowded. The city is quite spread out and a number of facilities have come up for people falling in that age group,” says K Ilango, chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry, Coimbatore zone. Agreeing with him is Anand Padmanabhan, CEO of a retirement home chain in the city. “Bengaluru was hitherto known as the Pensioner’s hub but now Coimbatore seems to be one of the best options for the elderly, courtesy the temperate climate and the connectivity to other cities. The cost of living is not very high and the city is well-equipped with the latest medical facilities. That definitely helps in luring the elderly.”

Ilango adds that with job prospects opening up in a big way, and the city is the perfect place for the elderly as far as the corporate sector is concerned. “Senior citizens are getting a lot of support from the industries here. A number of roles have opened up for them including that of mentors, consultants and advisors. There are many industries and organizations in the city that are potential players to move up in the corporate ladder. A mentor in the form of an experienced candidate is an icing on the cake. Retired people are also sought-after in educational institutions where they serve as specialized teachers in a particular subject. I have personally seen people who have moved into Coimbatore after retirement to open their own consultancy or a specialized service.” A case in point is banker A Subramaniam, who has worked in the metros and is planning to open up a consultancy in the city post retirement. “Coimbatore is brimming with young crowd and they are always looking for expert advice. That’s when our expertise comes in handy. I have a few friends who have done the same and I am planning to follow suit.”

Apart from the job prospects, the mushrooming number of retirement homes has caused a surge in the population of the elderly. PC Raju, managing trustee of a senior citizen retirement home tells us, “The retirement home is run by doctors, so medical facilities are taken care of, which is the primary need at that age.” With senior citizens moving into the city in large numbers, entertainment options have also opened up for them. Erine Louis, general manager of a star hotel in the city, says, “Now that we have many senior citizens in the city, we are planning to rope in a singer for a Kishore Kumar night apart from our Ilaiyaaraja-SPB nights. The elderly just love retro music.”

