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Clinton promises focussed action plan
to help Kutchis

Storming quake-hit Kutch and sharing the people's grief, former US president Bill Clinton on Wednesday promised a focussed action plan incorporating education and employment opportunities to rebuild the region.

The US-based American India Foundation, which was formed to help out the victims of the Gujarat quake, is organising Clinton's visit.

Cheering crowds greeted Clinton wherever he went, amid expectations that the visit would boost relief efforts.

"We thought we should meet people on the ground and decide whether to have a macro approach or to build schools and houses," said Clinton, who is accompanied by a 40-member delegation of influential US-based NRIs.

The former president who has brought with him keys to a $50 million fund put together by the American India Foundation to help quake victims visited Anjaar and Ratnal, a village completely devastated by the quake.

Holding hands of two survivors, he laid flowers at the spot in Anjaar where about 150 children participating in a Republic Day parade were buried alive when the buildings along the narrow lane in which they were walking collapsed on them.

About 3,000 people watched Clinton as he bowed his head for a moment in memory of those who perished.

Clinton went around the rubble-strewn streets of Bhuj, Ratnal and Anjaar, holding out his hands to children and others during his whirlwind five-hour tour of Kutch.

Addressing reporters in the premises of the quake-hit Jubilee Hospital in Bhuj, Clinton said lots of money raised for several causes all over the world, including the USA, was not spent 'very well'.

Clinton has said the American India Foundation fund will be used for short and long-term reconstruction in Gujarat, with the foundation working in collaboration with selected aid agencies.

"We have raised several million dollars. We intend to do more. I would like to help the people face their loss. We will continue to raise funds," he said.

He said that he would be talking to several NGOs to come out with a focussed plan aimed at among other things providing education to children and employment to the jobless.

Asked if he planned to adopt villages as was widely expected, he said he had come to 'look, listen and learn' and then chart out a programme to help the victims of the January 26 quake.

Recalling his visit to India as US president last year, he said, "I will never forget it. I have always wanted to come back but this sad event has brought me back earlier than expected."

Before leaving, he waved to the crowd and shouted, "I will be coming back to India."

PTI

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