When Clinton comes calling

[Guest guest]

HIVisit: Clinton comes calling. PM to bone up on HIV/AIDS specifics before

meeting him

TOUFIQ RASHID

NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 19: The National AIDS Control Organisation

officials are working overtime in order to get their specifics right

on HIV/AIDS so that the data can be sent to the Prime Minister's

Office (PMO), following a letter from the PMO asking for the same.

The reason for this is that Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee requires the

details for his November 21 meeting with former US president Bill

Clinton who is coming here on a two-day trip. Clinton will be

visiting India for the second time, albeit in his ``capacity as an

individual'' and not as a former head of the US. Both the American

Embassy and the Government deny having any precise information about

the visit.

The subject of his discussion with the PM would, however, be AIDS.

The interest in the disease is expected as Clinton is also an

honorary Chairperson of the American India Foundation (AIF). AIF

is ``committed to provide financial, technological and managerial

resources to Indians to strengthen the bond between the US and

India''.

AIF's grants are focused on education and livelihood projects with

emphasis on primary education and women's empowerment. The Foundation

also operates two programs: the Service Corps, which places skilled

Americans with NGOs in India for development work; and the Digital

Equaliser which provides computers, software, Internet access and

training to children and teachers in underprivileged schools in

India.

The purpose of the visit becomes clear by the fact that health-

related issues figure high on his itinerary. Besides speaking to the

PM, Clinton will attend a meeting organised by pharmaceutical company

Ranbaxy. The Clinton Foundation had recently entered into an

agreement with three pharmaceutical companies in India — Ranbaxy,

Cipla and Matrix — to lower the prices of drugs, especially the anti-

retroviral drugs for AIDS.

Sources say, Clinton is also likely to visit the Taj Mahal again on

November 22.

Meanwhile, the presidential suite at Maurya Sheraton is being

prepared for the celebrity guest it was named after. It has been

booked in Clinton's name from November 20 to 22. The chefs are

already on the job as Clinton has expressed his desire to have

Bukhara again.

http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=35675