Fleet of online cupids join Air Force

Looking for life partners may now get easier for officers of the Indian Air Force (IAF), with the Air Force Wives Welfare Association (AFWWA) launching a matrimonial website.

Aimed at helping officers and, more importantly, widows tie the knot, the website was launched in October 2007 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Indian Air Force.

The website, with a link on IAF’s official website, already has 704 registration and 154 resumes. Compared to the usual matrimonial website, this one is free of cost.

“Some pilots and their families find it difficult to find a suitable match because of postings in remote areas. The service was launched to help them out,” said Zareen Major, president AFWWA (Central) and first lady of IAF.

However, AFWWA neither maintains a record of bachelors in the force nor is it sure of matches made through the service.

“We do not keep a track since the idea behind the facility is to get like-minded people together so that, if compatible, they can become life partners. Given the response, we are sure it will be a success as it evolves,” added Major.

The Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA) too had started a similar service a couple of years ago in association with matrimonial portal Porichiti, that was started by retired colonel CK Das.

Response to the matrimonial portal, however, was poor with only 10 registrations. “We did not find many takers then, perhaps because online matchmaking was still at a nascent stage,” said Das.