By Edward Vamboi
To continue to commemorate India’s 75 Independence Day in the country, the Indian High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, His Excellency Rakesh K. Arora in collaboration with the Freetown City Council (FCC) has on the 17th August, 2021 planted 75 trees at the Kissy Upper Catchment Area on the edge of the Western Peninsula Forest Reserve in the East End of Freetown. The FCC, while facilitating the planting of the 75 trees by the Indian Mission, also contributed by planting an additional 75 trees bringing it to a total of 150 trees planted. This made India to become impact owner of 150 trees.
This medium further learnt that the Freetown City Council will integrate those trees into the architecture of #Freetown TheTree TownCampaign geared towards the planting, growing and digitally track one million trees in Freetown and the Western Area Peninsula by 2022.
This innovative Campaign harnesses digital and disruptive technology to create employment opportunities for local youth and women during the COVID-19 pandemic; it also helps establish long-term climate resilience for the community.
The campaign comes with ecosystem benefits that include reducing heat stress, improving air and water quality and reducing flooding and landslide risks.
Speaking during the ceremony, the Indian High Commissioner to Freetown, Rakesh K. Arora expressed gratitude to the Mayor of the Freetown City Council, Yvonne Aki Sawyerr OBE, to let the Indian Mission join FCC’s wonderful tree-planting campaign, stating that they all know that afforestation is necessary to combat the issues of global warming, soil erosion, pollution, and the maintenance of biodiversity and ecological balances and that green surroundings or forest areas improve air and water quality and lowers the risk of flooding of which , he said, such campaigns are important for providing qualitative life to its citizens.
Making mention of India’s environment policy, the High Commissioner said that India has pledged to keep a third of its total land area under forest and tree cover, adding that in a campaign last month, 250 million saplings were planted on a single day in India.
He disclosed that India is commemorating 75 years of progressive India and the glorious history of its people, culture and achievements, as Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav (Grand Independence Festival: India@75) furthering that India celebrated its 75th Independence Day on the 15 August and the commemoration will continue throughout the year until the anniversary celebration in 2022.
According to the Founder and Executive Director of Youth Action for Relentless Development Organization-Sierra Leone, Ahmid C. Jalloh YARDO is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) working alongside the Freetown City Council (FCC) to fight against climate change. He also extended his heartfelt gratitude to the India delegation for their effort in joining them fight against climate change.
He concluded by saying over the years they have been planting trees making many of them feel happy to be part of the process. He said the trees they planted are digitally tracked which will help to ensure their survival and growth rate.
The Councilor of Ward 416 in Constituency 119 within the Kissy Upper Catchment Area, Sheku Nbompa Turay, extended his sincere gratitude to the Indian High Commission and the Mayor of Freetown Yvonne Aki Sawyerr for choosing his area where the trees will be planted.
He disclosed that the event is going to be marked as a remarkable day more especially as India is celebrating its 75th Independence Day further stating that residents of the Kissy community really appreciate the participation of the Indian Commission for making a symbolic gesture towards his community adding how the relationship between residents of Kissy Community and the Indian Commission will continue to be strengthened.
He underscored that the tress they have planted will become a symbol of unity between the residents of Kissy and the Indian High Commission.
The Councilor informed how the Indian Government had been helping Sierra Leone in diverse ways disclosing how for the past years there had been a good relationship between the two countries in terms of Economic Trade, Industrial Service, Employment, Health and Security.
Sheku Turay concluded point out some of the constraints residents of the community have been deprived in terms of Road Maintenance, Water Facility, Electricity, Medical Facility, Schools.
Victor John, the Community Chairman of the Kissy Upper Catchment Area said they are appealing to the India Commission to support them in the areas of improved electricity, road infrastructure and so many things they lack as a community.
He said as a community heads they will ensure that the trees they have planted will be secured.
He ended by saying that they are very happy to see the India Commission through the Freetown City Council (FCC) planting trees in their community which will help them in the near future against deforestation, erosion, and other climate change that will destroy their community in the future.
