A press release issued by PWF secretary also invites application for MFA (first phase) for the year 2020-21 for treatment expenditure incurred between April 1, 2020 to September 31, 2020. The disbursement for the MFA 2020-21 (first Phase) will be done in October 2020, it intimated.

The release informed that altogether, eight applications were received, seeking assistance under the MFA (second phase) for 2019-20. While the board of trustees, rejected three applications on grounds of invalid AMWJU membership, faulty immediate family nominee and the MFA scheme not covering second time beneficiary, the board forwarded the five applications to the Medical Board. After the high-powered Medical Board deliberated and gave its recommendations, the Board of Trustees in a meeting with the chairperson of the trust, Wangkhemcha Shamjai, in the chair, approved the recommendation of the Medical Board in totality, it said. 

According to the release, Yumnam Homer was awarded full coverage of his medical expenditure posthumously. Homer, a reporter of Sangai Express succumbed to acute pancreatitis and septic shock untimely. A team of PWF, led by its managing trustee and AMWJU President, Bijoy Kakchingtam, along with other trustees, N Tombiraj, RK Nimai, Kh Naoba, Shanjit Laimapokpam, Jit Ningombam and trust secretary, Sunzu Bachaspatimayum, personally went to the resident of the demised journalist and handed over a cheque of Rs 80,000 to Anamika Kakchingtabam, the widow of the late journalist.

Earlier, the PWF team distributed the assistance to the other beneficiaries at the Manipur Press Club. Imphal Free Press staff Laishram Ananjoy, who had a serious road accident received Rs 80,000 towards the coverage of his medical bills for his neuro-surgery and femur fracture, exceeded Rs 2 lakhs, it said adding that Thongbam Inaotomba of The Peoples Chronicle was awarded Rs 35,000 for the treatment expenses for his wife’s chronic sinusitis. Senior journalist Yambem Biren of Ichel Express and editor, The Peoples Chronicle, Sagolsem Imo, respectively received Rs 20,000 and Rs 18,000 towards coverage of their treatment damages for cataract, stated the release.  

Paomee Welfare Foundation came into being in 2017 to independently manage AMWJU’s corpus funds of over Rs 85 lakhs, raised by way of a mega lottery organised in 2017. The Foundation offers one-time medical financial assistance to its retired and present members. Present members may also nominate one of their immediate family members as beneficiary. PWF funds its medical assistance scheme out of the interest earned from the corpus fund kept as fixed deposit with State Bank of India, it added.