Paomee Welfare Foundation (PWF), a private charitable Trust, set up by All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU), for the welfare of its past and present members, in its Board of Trustees meeting, held on Thursday, 27th May, decided to donate Rs. one Lakh to AMWJU’s Covid Relief Fund, instituted to provide aid for the Covid infected, affiliated journalists. The amount will be transferred immediately to a dedicated bank account, provided by AMWJU.

In the Zoom meeting, the Board also approved the recommendations of its Medical Board that fixed the amount of assistance for the phase-2 of the welfare scheme of the working journalists, the Medical Financial Assistance (MFA), for the five (5) beneficiaries, totaling Rs.1,75,000/-

Significantly, the Medical Board comprising, RIMS director, Dr A. Santa Singh, JNIMS Superintendent Prof. Kh. Lokeshwar Singh and Prof.  Dr. O. Guneshwar Singh of the same hospital and managing director of Shija Hospital, Dr. Kh. Palin had to opt for a meeting by circular to deliberate on the applications due to the prevailing Covid situation.

With the end of the MFA Scheme for the year 2020-21, PWF invites applications from bona fide, past, and present journalists to apply for assistance for Phase-1 of the Scheme for the year 2021-22, eligible for treatment expenses incurred between 1^st April 2021 to 31^st September 2021.

Given the raging Covid situation in the State, electronic transfer of assistance was the chosen mode of disbursement. However, in the case of two of the beneficiaries, the assistance was given in cheques, delivered to them individually.

This time around, the maximum amount of assistance was given to the reporter of Paojel, Angom Opendro Meetei, who suffered from Haematemesis as well as other ailments. Opendro was awarded Rs. 75,000/- to cover his medical expense. Naharolgi Thoudang’s Soraisham Dhaneshor Singh received Rs. 40,000/- as assistance for the treatment expenses for his nominee, his wife, suffering from Papillary Carcinoma Thyroid. Thongam Premchand of Poknapham who underwent appendicitis surgery was given Rs. 25,000/- while Sanjay Wangjamcha of People Chronicle who had diabetic nephropathy and other ailments was awarded Rs. 20,000/-. Lastly, senior journalist, Huidrom Netaji Singh of Kangla Pao who is diabetic and had tested Covid positive but recovered now was given Rs. 15,000/-

Altogether six (6) applications were received for the final round of the MFA scheme for 2020-21, covering treatment expenses, incurred between 1^st October 2020 to 31^st March 2021. Chongtham Bilanta Singh of Naharolgi Thoudang who had already been a beneficiary of the scheme also applied this year. However, his application was turned down by the Board of Trustees on the ground that MFA Scheme is not open for re-application from previous beneficiaries as yet.

Presided by the Trust’s chairperson, Wangkhemcha Shamjai, the Board of Trustees meeting was attended and actively participated N. Tombiraj, Aribam Balkrishna Sharma, RK Nimai, Pradip Phanjoubam, Asem Bhakta, Elangbam Imocha, Sunzu Bachaspatimayum, K. Sarojkumar Sharma, Kh. Sharatchandra Sharma, Jit Ningomba, Meghajit, and Borun Thokchom. Adhoc functionaries of AMWJU, namely Bokuljaoba Soubam and Jotin Khundrakpam were special invitees at the zoom meeting.