Pune, Dec. 15 -- As private old-age homes continue to proliferate, many without registration or regulation, the state government will soon roll out a policy to regulate such facilities across the state, ensuring the safety, dignity and well-being of senior citizens, officials said on Saturday. The decision follows growing concerns over the functioning of elderly care homes that have mushroomed in recent years. In the absence of proper regulation, several complaints have surfaced regarding neglect, inadequate medical care, poor living conditions and the lack of uniform standards. Speaking with the Hindustan Times, Deepa Mudhol-Munde, commissioner of the Social Justice and Special Assistance Department, revealed that a proposal to regulate private old-age homes had been submitted to the principal secretary in October or November. "The proposal is expected to be approved and implemented within the next couple of months," she said. Under the proposed policy, private operators will be required to obtain the department's permission before opening an old-age home. "There will be clear eligibility criteria for obtaining approval, which will include minimum standards for infrastructure, basic facilities, and medical care to be provided to elderly residents," Mudhol-Munde explained. The need for stronger regulation was highlighted by a recent incident on November 20, 2025, when the Social Justice Department discovered that 12 elderly residents of the Ask Old Age Home Orphanage had been living in makeshift huts in Ghorpadi for nearly a month....