Bill's Back, and Happy

Over a year past his last visit, Bill Clinton was back in South India to review the progress of the tsunami relief effort. And he was happy. The small town of Thazhanguda, a fishing village in Cuddalore, one of the tsunami's worst-hit areas, was a model for replication. "I want to figure out how to make this part of the UN strategy for future disaster management", said Mr. Clinton. "This is a good model for economic diversification and housing construction, not only for places devastated by natural disaster but also where poor people have sub-standard housing and not much economic opportunity. What is being done here, I would like to see copied throughout the world." Housing was very important and "the hardest thing to do". Even in Florida, a year after the Hurricane, people were living in tents.

"Cuddalore could be proud that it had covered the 'last mile' in early warning systems and disaster preparedness".. The Hindu

Collector Gagandeep Singh Bedi came in for praise.. the Cuddalore success story was "an unusual partnership - national funding and regional leadership under this good man here".

Bill also visited the house of Mayilvail, a fisherman, and witnessed a mock disaster-perparedness drill. He broke protocol to reach out and touch the locals who had gathered in strength to see him.