Sandeep Gajawada, an IT professional, lost three family members to COVID-19 in 2021. A year later, planting trees in their memory as part of the Haritham initiative has brought in a sense of healing for him and his father. Haritham is a green memorial for those who lost their lives to COVID-19. The first phase kicked off in July at Panchavati Colony, Banjara Hills. The second phase was inaugurated last weekend at Akshaya Layout park, Prashasan Nagar, Jubilee Hills.
These memorial parks have been made possible with the efforts of COVID-19 volunteers Sai Charan Chikkula and Sri Uha, with the support of GHMC (Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation) and Department of Forests, Government of Telangana. The volunteers who were proactive in helping patients get medicines, hospital beds, oxygen cylinders and financial aid, have vivid memories of the trauma faced by COVID-hit families.
Like every monsoon, this time too social media was abuzz with the Government of Telangana’s Haritha Haram or green challenge to kick off a campaign of planting saplings across the city. “The idea of a green initiative that can be a memorial for victims of COVID-19 came from Shanta Thoutam (chief innovation officer, Government of Telangana). When we discussed this in a Twitter Spaces session, volunteers we knew and others came forward,” says Charan, director of Tsirs Pharmaceuticals.
