Objective of AFASCH

• The main objective of this Home is to provide social security and a home to some of the Air Force Veterans who are desirous of availing of such a facility.

Background

• On retirement, an ex-serviceman or “Silver,” as he is affectionately called, is encountered with manifold problems which need to be settled e.g. settlement of children in their careers/marriages, gainful utilization of expertise achieved by him in a very competitive civil hostile environment etc. He being young- elderly (57 years and above), physically fit and mentally agile, is very keen to start the second career, which he finds difficult due to his growing age, even though he has gained bags of experience. In addition, he needs a greater social and cultural anchor, apart from a sense of respect and recognition from the society. The ultimate aim being that he wishes to spend his remaining life with dignity and comforts, being used to while in active service. Lately, the Socio-Economic changes have been moving families away from the traditional joint family structure towards nuclear units. It is, thus, now not uncommon to see older people living by themselves and being regularly exposed to increasing personal problems(loneliness, old age illness, managing daily and emergent tasks, etc.) and social crimes (robbery, theft and murder).
• It is in response to this scenario that Indian Air Force had a vision, took initiative and Air Force Association (AFA) was established in Sep 1980, mainly to look after the multifarious welfare problems and rehabilitation of its retired fraternity. Air Force Association, subsequently, vastly expanded the scope of its activities and plans, to undertake various projects for the welfare of retired personnel. It was envisaged that the Veterans would be desirous of living a carefree life free from encumbrances
• With that background, the Air Force came up with a very noble idea to set up a Senior Citizens’ Home (SCH) as an institution where accommodation on “Pay and Stay” basis is provided at reasonable cost. IAF tasked AFA to buy a piece of land from DDA. This piece of land measures one acre. The ‘’Foundation stone’’ of the Senior Citizens’ Home was laid by Shri Tajendra Khanna, the then Hon’ble Lt. Governor of Delhi on 16 Apr 97.The building of AFA SCH was inaugurated by Air Chief Marshal SK Sareen, PVSM AVSM VM, the then Chief of The Air Staff, on 24 Dec 1998, to coincide with the World Elders’ year.
• The proof is in the pudding. The prestigious project has fulfilled an ever-increasing need for the retired Air Force fraternity in an era that has seen the emergence of the nuclear family system with its inevitable focus on greater social and cultural anchor for the ageing and the aged.