Former Indian Honorary Consul General to Liberia Upjit Singh Sachdeva has vowed to continue to contribute to humanity by providing feeding and helping to develop and train less fortunate and needy Liberians as his own way of identifying and sharing happiness in the midst of huge challenges they are faced with in post-conflict Liberia.
Mr. Sachdeva, who is commonly known as “Jeety” is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Jeety Rubber Corporation operating in Weala, Margibi County and a host of other businesses in the country.
According to him, the need for providing assistance to Liberians, especially those who cannot fetch food for themselves remains his foremost priority.
He made the vow when he celebrated his birthday with inmates at the Monrovia Central Prison, less fortunate and disadvantaged youths and elders at the famous Pelhum Building on Center Street and Weala, Margibi County. He also provided chlorine and plates to the MCP.
Jeety distributed hot cooked meal to about 1476 inmates at the Monrovia Central Prison and hundreds of others in Monrovia and Weala respectively.
He pointed out that his consistent provision of feeding to needy Liberians is not intended to show that he has, but to put smile on their faces and enable them have something to eat like any other citizens.
“It is by faith and I do not have any regrets for giving to humanity. Whenever I am able to feed a person who is in need of food with a plate to fill his or her stomach, it gives me strength to do more. I believe and I know that I’m fulfilling God’s words.
I see that there is a need for helping them (disadvantaged youths) and if I can help, I can do something. Identifying with them gives me so much happiness and so today, I am sharing my happiness and joy with them. I will continue giving to humanity until the end of my life.”
Mr. Sachdeva further disclosed that he would also only disengage from his hot cooked meal initiative, which he started several years ago, if the Government of Liberia (GOL) request him to do so.
He noted that apart from that and whether rain or shine, he remains unwavering and fully prepared to provide feeding to thousands of Liberians on a daily basis, with no expectation of getting anything in return in the future.
He said the feeding of about 1500 needy Liberians on a daily basis by him and his team would not be short-lived as being perceived by others.
“I am using my own resources to do this. I have not gotten a cent from anybody. The numbers today are high. My target today is to feed around 4000 persons. What God gives us is a blessing and we do not count it. So what we are doing here today, we will not count how much we spent in terms of monetary value.”
“If one person starts feeding his or her neighbors or those in the streets who cannot afford, nobody will sleep hungry here. Government is sometimes limited and so, we always come here to feed the inmates once a month. I am very thankful to the prison management for always giving me chance to feed them with hot nourished meal.”
Jeety, however, vowed to extend his feeding program to other leeward areas in Liberia. Already, disadvantaged and less fortunate Liberians are benefitting from the gesture on a regular basis in Weala, Margibi County.
He also promised to help train and rehabilitate disadvantaged youths to become productive citizens in Liberia.
He further pointed out that his decision taken to celebrate his natal day with the disadvantaged citizens and inmates is to share his joy and happiness with them.
Mr. Sachdeva observed that many of his friends can afford, but he chose to stay away from them for a while to celebrate with those who cannot afford to celebrate or merry make due to the challenges they are encountering.
For their part, the beneficiaries commended Mr. Sachdeva for celebrating his natal day with them through the provision of nourished meal.
The Superintendent of the Monrovia Central Prison, Varney Lake pointed out that him and other authorities were astonished when Jeety abruptly informed them about his plan to celebrate his birthday with the inmates.
He said though Mr. Sachdeva is not a stranger to the inmates and its officials, his decision taken to celebrate one of the best days in his life with those behind bars is welcoming.
He, however, called on others to exert efforts and emulate the good example of the Indian businessman.
“Most often whenever Jeety is coming here, we plan it about a week. But today is impromptu and we just want to say thank you. We pray that your humanitarian strength will increase. We are very grateful for being a beneficiary of your gesture.”
