Clinton lauds reconstruction efforts

By Our Special Correspondent

AHMEDABAD, APRIL 5. The visiting former United States President, Mr. Bill Clinton, held a meeting with the non-government organisations helping in the reconstruction of the earthquake-hit Kutch and other affected areas and was given a presentation by the Gujarat Government on its efforts to rehabilitate the affected.

On the second day of his two-day visit to the State, Mr. Clinton visited the Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram to pay tributes to the father of the nation, paid a courtesy call on the Governor, Mr. Sunder Singh Bhandari at the Raj Bhavan in Gandhinagar and visited the Akshardham, an artistically developed temple complex by the Swaminarayan sect, before leaving for Mumbai in the evening.

The Chief Minister, Mr. Keshubhai Patel, called on Mr. Clinton at the Hotel Taj Residency where he has been staying since his arrival here from Bhuj on Wednesday evening.

Mr. Clinton, during his meeting with the Chief Minister, offered to bring in American technology expertise in building earthquake- resistant houses in the affected areas. Later, in a brief chat with newsmen at the Sabarmati Ashram, Mr. Clinton lauded the State Government's reconstruction programme, particularly its association with the NGOs. He said it was for the first time he had heard that the Government was handing over funds to the NGOs for the reconstruction programme. ``As far my experience goes, in most of the places, the Governments are not even in talking terms with the NGOs,'' he observed.

At his meeting with the NGOs, Mr. Clinton reportedly expressed the view that the affected should be allowed to shape their own destiny instead of the Government imposing its decisions on the people. He said the affected people should be empowered with micro credit so that they could shape their future. Considering the magnitude of the calamity, Mr. Clinton said mere writing of a cheque would not change the ground reality. He would do his best to raise as much funds as possible for the aid of the quake- affected who were leading a pathetic life.

Mr. Clinton adopted the role of a listener, asking the representatives of the NGOs invited for the meeting to do the talking and give details about the rehabilitation and reconstruction programmes they had planned. He also forewarned the Government and NGOs that in view of the alarming rise in the number of HIV positive cases in the world, particularly in Africa, there was need for a community-based planning to deal with the situation.

Ms. Ila Bhatt of the Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA), pointed out that though funds were important, it was not the only issue in the rehabilitation of the affected. She echoed what Mr. Clinton suggested in a public address in Bhuj on Wednesday for a ``long partnership'' between the NGOs and the Foundation and play an important role in the ``knowledge management.''

Ms. Sushma Iyengar of ``Abhiyan'' suggested that the funds should be placed in the hands of the village people and the NGOs should monitor its utilisation, while Mr. Sunil Handa wanted the NGOs and the Government to work hand in hand and not in isolation of each other.

Ms. Nita Ambani of the Ambani Foundation stressed the need for starting income-generating activities in the affected areas. Mr. Karsandas patel of the Nirma Foundation felt that the Government should not enter into partnership with the NGOs but should only give the amount fixed by it and the NGOs supplementing the balance could be given a free hand for the reconstruction activities. Various suggestions like mobile blood banks, artificial limb centres, mobile surgical hospitals and creation of a rapid action force to deal with a natural calamity were also suggested at the meeting.

An official spokesman of the State Government claimed that at a meeting Mr. Clinton had with the Government officials and others during which he was given a presentation of the governmental efforts for rehabilitation, he lauded its reconstruction programme taking into account the social and economic aspects with a decisive role of the NGOs.

The former U.S. President observed that since the rehabilitation of the quake victims required to be carried out on a massive scale, the support of the international agencies including that of the U.S. was necessary.

The Chief Secretary, Mr. L.N.S. Mukundan, informed Mr. Clinton that some 90 voluntary organisations had promised adoption of 313 of the affected villages and the response received from the NGOs was encouraging. The Chief Minister during his meeting with Mr. Clinton said the State Government was maintaining transparency in the utilisation of funds.

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