Amidst euphoria, some voices question cost of Mars Mission

The Mission would cost somewhere between Rs 450-500 cr to the exchequer

While the Mars mission got wide praise, there were voices which questioned the need for spending Rs 450-500 crore on it when the country is facing hunger and poverty.

Social activist Harsh Mander, former member of Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council, termed the mission as a "remarkable indifference to the dignity" of the poor.

"I believe that in an India in which 230 million people sleep hungry each night, in which many million lack even basic health care, decent housing, clean water and sanitation, it reflects a remarkable indifference to the dignity of the poor to spend on a Mars Mission," he told PTI.

Mander was member of the NAC till last year and had convened working groups on the Food Security Bill and Land Acquisition.

The Mars Mission, which was hailed by the leaders, including President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, as a milestone, would cost somewhere between Rs 450-500 crore to the exchequer.

Former Isro Chairman Madhavan Nair has also termed the Mars Mission as "utter non-sense".

"With a minuscule methane sensor, even if you want to look at methane, it cannot be done. NASA has come out very publicly after a rove experiment that there is no trace of life on Mars. In spite of that, somebody making this kind of statement....They are fooling the nation. There is a limit to fooling the people and fooling the nation", he said yesterday.