India yesterday paid glowing tribute to the world for standing by it when the country was hit with the third wave of the Delta variant of COVID-19.
“In our time of desperate need, you provided us with emergency medical supplies including oxygen to save the lives of Indians who were dying in their hundreds when health facilities were limited,” Mr Sugandh Rajaram, India’s High Commissioner in Accra said at the 75th independent anniversary celebration in Accra yesterday.
“We are exceedingly grateful to the scientific community, the frontline health workers, the doctors and all those who came to our aid with all sort of medical supplies to contain the Delta variant at the time when health centres were overwhelmed and could no longer accept patients just needing oxygen to breathe,” he said.
He said India had vaccinated more than 550 million of its population with seven million people getting jabs daily.
The Indian High Commissioner expressed condolences to the families who lost loved ones to the pandemic adding that, “if not because of COVID-19, they would all have been celebrating with us today.”
The Indian High Commissioner paid tribute to the gallant men and women who fought for freedom and urged Indians to uphold the cherished values that kept them united in diversity.
“When we look back, we should be proud that our forefathers have laid down their lives to buy us freedom.”
In the wake of many adversaries, India, he said would continue to dominate the world discourse.
He also used the occasion to pay tribute to Indians who brought glory to India in the just ended Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan particularly commending women for their role in winning medals.
Sixty five per cent of India’s population, he said was made up of young people and therefore, urged them to get involved in putting their nation on a high pedestal of socio-economic development.
Women who formed more than 50 per cent are today taking part in all spheres of India’s development, saying it is no longer about women empowerment but ‘women led development’ with the objective to untie the potential of every woman.
Street vendors and hawkers, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), he said were hard hit as a result of COVID-19, but was happy that they were recovering from the pandemic.
Winners of a quiz competition for school children were presented with trophies and certificates.
The occasion which was held in strict compliance of COVID-19 protocol was interspersed with Indian cultural performances ranging from classics to love songs.
Students from the Delhi Public School thrilled the audience with displays.
BY NORMAN COOPER
