Go to the moon, but don’t go gaga!

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Apparently, Indians all over the world, celebrated the success of Chandrayaan 3. I too was one of them, as I saw the live telecast with my office staff.
Obviously, our PM was also over the moon as he effused about the phenomenal greatness of the moment. He mentioned that this was a declaration to the world of the great new India in the making.
But as I pondered over the successful scientific feat and what it actually meant to us as a country or as a society, my exhilaration quickly faded.
The proud feeling of being one of the 4 countries to achieve the feat of landing on the moon also was short-lived.
I wondered why other advanced economies and developed societies such as France, Germany, UK, and Japan haven’t done this yet.
And yet these countries are called developed nations, something which our PM wants India to become – and he mentioned that in his speech after the landing yesterday. He spoke about “Vikasit” (developed) India.
But my dear PM, nations and societies cannot be considered developed just because they can send a lander and rover on the South pole of the moon to find water…. before that, isn’t it essential that a developed nation-society is able to provide clean and hygienic drinking water to all its citizens on earth.
So, although commendable, lets us not go gaga over what ISRO has achieved.
Let our exhilaration be tempered by what we as a nation have not yet achieved. And achieving that may prove to be more difficult that than putting a “Tiranga” on the moon.


 

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About the author

Dr Santosh Karmarkar is a reputed Pediatric Surgeon from Mumbai and a Health Activist. His interests are Health, Politics and Sci-Fi.

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Comments

  • Prabha Pandey August 29, 2023 at 1:26 pm
    0

    SALUTE, TEAM CHANDRAYAAN -3 !
    Hope revives !

    When can we expect a National, Scientific *Healthcare Discovery Mission-1 to reach our abandoned villages, urban slums and high rise hovels, to measure the levels of hunger, malnutrition, mountains of filth and maybe conduct a high level probe into the existence of functioning toilets ?

    Clean, drinking water?

    The above data, collectively comprising essential information for evaluating the mental and physical impact, of prolonged mass incarceration under degrading, inhumane, unhygienic living conditions of innumerable , impoverished, invisiblised, Indian Citizens.

    Preferably, to be followed up by a detailed Study on the inevitable, subsequent range of debilitating diseases and fatal illnesses, including the rate of infant mortality, numbers afflicted with birth defects and official records on maternity deaths, undoubtedly occurring in the absence of essential, qualified maternity services.
    Shortage of Gynaecologists and Paediatricians ?

    It would also be advisable for Team Healthcare Discovery, Mission-1 to probe the state of Medical Infrastructure within our Public Hospitals :
    The Number of Beds, Clean bedsheets, Medical Equipment (in working condition,with operators at hand) Lab Test facilities, In-house Chemists, trained Staff.
    Clean toilets ?

    CLEAN DRINKING WATER ?

    The number of Doctors, Specialiststs available on call ?

    *Eventually, the main objective of the Healthcare Discovery Mission-1 would be to MAP DEFICIENCIES and DOCUMENT FINDINGS on the current Status of Healthcare Services in each State of the Country, beginning with Primary Healthcare Centres, Women & Childcare Hospitals and General Hospitals, in proportion to the demographics of the resident population.

    Water in the South pole of the Moon ?
    Congratulations !

    Reply

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