After its grand launch of food security bill project, Indian government announced free Mars and Moon tours for people below poverty line. Indian government took cues from the millionaire space tourist Dennis Tito's plan to send two astronauts on a 501-day flight that zooms past Mars and swings back to Earth.
"We are discussing the plan and the initial draft would be ready in next 1 month. The pilot project is under the name Rajiv Gandhi Mangal Antariksh Yojna," said Dr. K. Radhakrishnan; the current Chairman of Space Commission, Secretary, Department of Space, Government of India and Chairman of ISRO.
Radhakrishnan said "Indian Railways and Air India will assist in our program to send Indian people below poverty line for a 5-day visit."
He said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who is also Minister of Space himself told the department to work out on the plan and send first draft as soon as possible.
According to Congress sources, the buzz is that Congress President Sonia Gandhi called Mr. Singh after reading news about Tito and asked him to workout something beneficial for below poverty line people on the same line of Employment Guarantee Scheme and Food Security Bill.
The source also confirmed that IRCTC, a division of Indian Railways will look after the catering service in the space shuttle and Air India would take care of Space Shuttle Hostesses and crew.
"Food will be charged and registration for the space shuttle seat will be done at IRCTC website," said Radhakrishnan.
Dr. Manmohan Singh said "UPA Government believes in the empowerement of poor. Mars is not just for millionaire, all BPL people are entitled to visit it. Along with Mars we are also going to send space shuttle to Moon as well."
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