So as usual, we have been talking a lot and Arnab Goswami is tearing his hair about the Mars mission, its usefulness, its frugality, whether its ok to spend 460cr when millions are starving etc.This applies in taking any decision having a far reaching impact. So thought of jotting down my thoughts:
If you are going to talk about Mars project and Starving people, then you need to take the ENTIRE picture - not just 2.
1. Is it useful in the first place? Spending 100 rupees on something useless is much worse than spending rs 10,000 on something that is moderately useful. Gathering space data, feeding starving people, erecting statues of politicians, building stadiums - whats your take? Some might be clear, some might be gray. Some benefits are tangible, others non-tangible, then there is individual subjectivity. THERE IS NO RIGHT ANSWER. But this is not an excuse for NOT having an answer. "Getting into the space exploration club", "Have high ambitions" is a dumb answer. What are the precise social/political/economic benefits? But how much time should we spend thinking, debating? And avoid analysis paralysis? This takes us to the next question.
2. Prioritization: How much % of our total kitty(GDP) is it? If it is insignificant, then just take a decision and move on. Opposers will always exist. If its significant, try to build consensus. Not because its right, but because those people might need to support you in ensuring success. Again, there will always be obstructionists. Try your best, take a decision - move on.
3. What are we doing to ensure efficiency? No matter how useful it is, a wastage is a wastage. Assigning Rs. 100 for a good purpose is ok. Using only Rs. 10 is meeting 10% of the purpose. Or sacrificing 9 other such purposes. Think corruption, scams, failed projects. At the same time, there is the danger of applying criteria 2 to wastages as well. Wasting 90 rs on a 100 rs expenditure might SEEM more economical than wasting 10,000 on a 100,000 expenditure - but the underlying attitude is what matters. 90% wastage Vs 10% wastage. Else it might give rise to the "What difference does MY corruption make?" but these same folks will be handling bigger projects tomorrow. If they cannot spend Rs. 100 efficiently, they will do a worse job at 1000 crore.
From this angle, I do not find concrete answers for #1 itself. Which is a red flag. But assuming there is, #2 makes the debates a waste of time. Be proud, angry - whatever you want...and move on. Seems that #3 is fulfilled nicely - from the Mars project perspective - which is GOOD. But is it an efficient use of the OVERALL ISRO budget itself? Again, depends on #1 and #2.
To the moralists/sentimentalists/sensationalists, lets just silence them with answers that are as intelligent as their questions.
Q. What do we say to the starving kid on the street who asks "You spent Rs. 460 crore on this mission. What about my food?"
A. The same thing you would say if he asks "You spent Rs. 2000 on a resturant dinner. Why not have healthy food at home and giving me a weeks food instead"
Q. This is silly. We are arguing about Rs. 460 cr, when 1000 cr are being wasted in scams
A. These are the cribbers.The conclusion is the same, but the reasoning is different. Mixing 2 different issues. Rs. 460Cr for a (very or moderately) useful purpose, but 1000Cr with NO useful purpose. You can ignore the 460Cr, but we are skipping/avoiding/excusing ourselves from a much more important question: Why did we WASTE 1000Cr or even a rupee? Related to criteria #3. Got nothing to do with the space mission. 2 wrongs do not make a right.
Q. Doesn't national pride mean anything? This is a proud moment for Indian Space research....We are now in the elite space club.We did what the US did - and at a fraction of the price!!!
A. Yeah....so? Please go back to #1.
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