Wrong priorities, wrong policies will cost dearly for India
B. B. Goel
Sunday, 16 August 2009 14:32 UTC
Today there is news that India has completed the design of Chandrayaan-2, its next mission to the moon this time in collaboration with Russia. I am a bit confused for spending such a huge budget in such missions. There are so many practical things India can do in space research, e.g having its own GPS navigation system which can generate its own money and hugely beneficial for common people and can meet many of our crucial security needs.
What India is going to get from such lunar missions? What did USA and Russia got from spending huge money from moon race and why did they discontinue such cold-war legacies? Why many other technically competent countries not undertaking such missions? Do Indian policy makers care to learn from history? They very well know that we do not have enough resources to implement “right to education”, “right to food”, “employment for 100 days” type of programs which is more important than sending machines or man to Moon.
Per capita food consumption in India has decreased from 186 kg per person annually in 1991 to 152 kg in 2001, despite government food subsidies costing billions of dollars
The (Indian) government had been arguing that education is one of its top priorities. It said the problem revolves around the lack of funds rather than a lack of commitment
Every year India gets 14 million new kids to provide food, education and health. I can do something does not and must not be the basis to do that. It must have a strong logic and tangible benefit, particularly for a country like India that does not have huge surplus budget to waste on such fancy projects.
Updated 16 August 2009 14:40 UTC
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This is more encouraging news for me as an Indian than “water in moon discovered by India” or “Pokhran-II” story.
India’s ‘green and clean’ village : Large crowds of visitors have been thronging to the village curious to find out why Mawlynnong has earned the reputation for being arguably the cleanest and best educated in India – all its residents can read and write and each house has a toilet.
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India’s ranking in recently published “Human Development Report” by United Nations Development Program (UNDP) is unchanged in two consecutive years, 2009-2010. India now ranks 134 out of 182 countries.
“..quality of life in India continues to be appalling and the country has slipped in comparative terms in ensuring a better quality of life for its citizens. In the previous index, published for 2007 and 2008 together, India ranked 128, while the position was 126 in 2006”.
Although Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia reacted sharply regarding some criteria for determining India’s ranking, he was silent on our low raking. Our friends among developing world; China, Brazil, Mexico and South Africa all ranked batter than us: 92, 75, 53, 129 respectively. Many of the countries ranking much better than us did not claim to find water on the moon or plan to undertake lunar missions but can offer a better quality of life for its citizens.
Quality of science will surely be reflected by the quality of overall life in a country. -
The ancient Chinese war master Sun Tzu, who in his Art of War said “Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat”.
Sounds familiar? Does it ring any bell to Indian science?
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