AMMA's benevolence being overlooked: Office-bearer
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Thrissur: The good work carried out by the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) is being ignored amid a spat between a few actors, according to a senior functionary of the organisation.
In a statement, which outlines the welfare activities of the actors’ body, AMMA, its general secretary Edavela Babu offered to work together with voluntary organisations and the media, while stating that the organisation has been unnecessarily targeted.
AMMA, which has 484 members, has been targeted by all and sundry, ostensibly to take mileage over its celebrity gathering, after its general body meeting consented to re-induct actor Dileep, an accused in a case pertaining to the abduction and abuse of a young actress last year.
Highlighting the welfare activities, the organisation has undertaken, Babu said AMMA had constructed houses for 51 homeless people and provided medical aid to all its members, besides offering a monthly pension of Rs 5,000 each to 43 others.
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The full text of Babu’s statement, titled “Knowing AMMA”, follows:
“AMMA has 484 member s— 246 men and 236 women — as of July 1, 2018. It has 112 honorary members and 372 life members. The 'kaineettam' (a token of blessing) project, which started in 1995 providing Rs 1,000 each a month to 10 people, now offers Rs 5,000 each to 143 people throughout their lifetime. This is perhaps the only organisation in the country which provides such a financial aid. Those with financial constraints and the elderly are admitted to AMMA as honorary members free of cost. They are also beneficiaries of the kaineettam.
AMMA has been offering a medical insurance plan of Rs 5 lakh, with the organisation contributing Rs 2 lakh and the remaining amount by the insurance company. Besides, the members also have an accident death insurance cover of Rs 10 lakh. The insurance company also provides Rs 1,500 a week to those recuperating from accidents, and AMMA pays the premium. The organisation also provides medical aid to those in other cinema-related organisations whenever necessary.
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AMMA has joined hands with the government to meet exigencies rising out of natural calamities. Besides conducting shows to raise money, it has also contributed from its own funds. AMMA has stood with the governments whenever a need arose. Kargil war, the earthquake at Latur, tsunami rehabilitation work, etc., are a few examples.
The members have also cooperated in government’s social welfare advertisements free of cost.
AMMA is meeting the educational expenses of late actor Cochin Haneefa’s children. The ‘AMMA Veedu’ project provides housing, each costing Rs 5 lakh, to the destitute. The key of one such house has been handed over and six others are under construction.
The organisation has donated a modern ambulance with toilet facilities to Theruvoram Murugan, a volunteer who rehabilitates the mentally deranged and sick homeless people.