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Very often we are encountered by the following question from the serving and retired Air Veterans.
(a) Why should I take membership of AFA?
(b) What will be the gains and benefits to me or my family from it?
A small write up which follows will give you an insight into the AFA & its activities.
It is a welfare organization for the Air Veterans and their families. It was established in the year 1980 and has been duly recognized by the MoD. We have more than one lakh members and 6770 spouse members.
Some of the welfare activities are listed below:-
(a) Scholarships for wards of Air Warriors, NCs (E), DSC personnel& Veterans.
(b) Accommodation for its members at Senior Citizens’ Home at Tughlakabad.
(c) Publication of its biannual magazine AFA News (Eagles Eye).
(d) Ex-gratia payment of Rs. 7,500/- to the spouse / NoK on demise of veteran member.
(e) Shagun for the wedding of daughters of spouse members.
(f) Help and support its members to fight against cancer, other serious diseases by providing grants and financial support in the wake of natural calamities.
(g) Financial support of up to Rs. one lakh to serving / retired air warriors / NCs (E) and DSC personnel for IVF treatment.
In addition to the above, the members get support from Marshal of the Air Force & Mrs. Arjan Singh Trust in the form of grants
and financial assistance through various welfare schemes for needy Air Veterans, widows and dependent family members. Some of them are listed below:-
(a) Medical treatment for veterans & dependents.
(b) Grant for Higher Education of children.
(c) Shagun for the Marriage of daughters of widows and Air Veterans not getting pension.
(d) Financial assistance to Air veterans in financial distress or for meeting any other contingency as deemed fit by the Trust.
(e) Various Scholarships for students.
(f) One-time sports achievements awards to sportsmen at National / Junior National / State & Zonal level.
In addition to all above AFA gives you an opportunity to remain connected to IAF, “The Glorious Service “which provided lifelong support to you and your family by its vast network spread all over the country and abroad with its 22 branches and 41 chapters. Eligibility criteria and procedure to take membership is given below:-
(a) All retired Officers, Airmen & NCs (E) of IAF and Spouses of deceased Air Veterans can take membership.
(b) Membership form can be downloaded from AFA website (www.afa-india.org) for offline and online submission.
(c) For offline membership, completed form can be submitted / sent by post to AFA HO or to the nearest branch.
(d) Life Membership Fee:-
| Officers | Other Ranks | Widows | ||||
| Rank | Air Cmde & above | Gp Capt & below | Hony Offrs / MWO/WO/JWO | Sgt & Below | NCs(E) | Widows of Non-AFA Member * |
| Amount | Rs.5,000/- | Rs.4,000/- | Rs.2,500/- | Rs.2,000/- | Rs.1,000/- | Rs.700/- |
Note: Free of cost if husband was already a member of AFA. Free of cost for widows of those air warriors who passed away while still in service.
(e) For any quires, please contact us at
phone no. 011-23015762,
Mob-7011732270
E-mail- afaheadoffice@gmail.com and
website- www.afa-india.org.
Amount of money disbursed by AFA and MAFT of Mshl Arjan Singh Trust in the last three financial years is tabulated below. Approximately Three Hundred Air Warriors, NCs(E), DSC personnel, Veterans & Widows benefited from the above schemes.
| AFA | Scholarship | Grants | Shagun | IVF |
| 2021-22 | 9,56,000.00 | 7,20,000.00 | — | — |
| 2022-23 | 13,56,000.00 | 2,87,000.00 | 64,000.00 | 4,20,000.00 |
| 2023-24 | 13,40,500.00 | 1,63,000.00 | — | 3,00,000.00 |
| Total | 36,52,500.00 | 11,70,000.00 | 64,000.00 | 7,20,000.00 |
| Trust | Scholarship | Grants | Shagun |
| 2021-22 | 8,87,000.00 | 12,30,375.00 | 84,000.00 |
| 2022-23 | 7,35,000.00 | 13,05,883.00 | 1,15,00.00 |
| 2023-24 | 10,53,000.00 | 14,09,982.00 | 52,000.00 |
| Total | 26,75,000.00 | 39,46,240.00 | 2,51,000.00 |
In addition, Rs.30, 31,500/- was disbursed towards Ex-gratia, Rs.6, 40,930/- was spent during the honoring ceremony of OCTO and NONA members.
In the recent past we have been approached by two veterans who had NOT taken up membership of AFA but are in distress now. In one case the veteran’s son, who is NOT DEPENDENT, because of age, is suffering from Bone Cancer and in the second case veteran was boarded out on medical ground without any pensionary benefits. Both veterans had not taken up AFA membership. In both the cases a sympathetic view is being taken to help out the individuals financially. However, it has been decided that in future
any veteran will be eligible for the welfare scheme only if he had taken membership of AFA within Six months of retirement.
There could be reasons like ignorance, poor awareness, proceeding abroad immediate on retirement etc. when a veteran fails to take membership. He / She can still take membership at a later date but shall become eligible for availing benefits of these schemes only after he / she has been a member of AFA for at least TWO Years.
The readers are urged to educate more and more retiring air warriors and veterans to take up MEMBERSHIP by paying ONE TIME NOMINAL FEE and continue to be part of this glorious organisation.