For Those Positive Vibes

Usha Rai June 27, 2005 00:00 IST For Those Positive Vibes -0001-11-30T00:00:00+05:53

It’s a modest building that blends into the lower middle class ambience of Shahdara, Delhi. Despite the hustle and bustle of life all around, it is quiet and peaceful at CHELSEA’s care and support home, Akankshya in Jyoti Nagar. It is difficult to believe that it is the lifeline for those infected by hiv/aids—widows who are rebuilding their lives and kids who have been orphaned because one or both parents have succumbed to the infection.

The home was started in 2001 by the Women’s Action Group—CHELSEA. It is a group of retired army and air force officers’ wives who wanted to give back to society the good life they had enjoyed. Doe Nair and Neelam Dang, two of the original group of 13 women who formed the action group in the ’90s, have brought the army discipline into their working. The home is clean, efficiently run and the Shahdara residents have accepted its inmates. In fact, many want to work as volunteers here but they don’t have the skills CHELSEA is looking for. There is also a team of dedicated doctors and social workers. Many caregivers and outreach...