The Hindu : National : ``Space programme cost-effective''

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 14, 2007
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National

National

``Space programme cost-effective''

Special Correspondent

Benefits manifold: Madhavan Nair

Madhavan Nair

CHENNAI: The Indian space programme is being executed in a cost-effective manner and the cost hardly is one-third or one-fifth when compared to international standards, according to G. Madhavan Nair, chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation.

The achievements under the programme, however, were remarkable globally. Moreover, India is the only country using the sophisticated technology for the benefit of the common man, Dr. Nair told a book launch function here on Tuesday.

Receiving the first copy of The Economics of India's Space Programme - An Exploratory Analysis authored by U. Sankar, honorary professor of the Madras School of Economics (MSE), Dr. Nair said the benefits for the masses from the programme were manifold.

With regard to the indirect benefits, the programme had given back to the country more than twice of what was spent on it, he said while pointing out that the mission to moon would be launched sometime in the beginning of 2008. On the book, he said it was well written by Dr. Sankar and reproduced in excellent quality by the Oxford University Press (OUP).

Chairman of MSE and Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister C. Rangarajan, who released the book, commended the author as the space programme had multiple objectives and to analyse them and the economic implications was very difficult. "We have to evaluate it in a number of ways," he said and pointed out that Dr. Sankar had understood and analysed it even more intelligently than space scientists.

Member of Parliament and director of the National Institute of Advanced Studies K. Kasturirangan said the book was a very detailed assessment of the space programme with respect to economics. The pioneering effort of the author would initiate many other efforts.

Describing the book as informative and comprehensive, Anna University Vice-Chancellor D. Viswanathan said economics was highly relevant for technologists.

Dr. Sankar thanked all those who helped him and said it was Dr. Kasturirangan who took the initiative of giving the project to him. MSE director D.K. Srivastava and A.S. Manikandan of OUP spoke at the function, in which chairman emeritus of the School Raja J. Chelliah participated.

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