This is nuts. I'm all for accelerating the exploration of space, but India launching a manned mission? That's insane. India has hundreds of millions -- repeat, hundreds of millions -- of people so poor they can't put a roof over their head or get enough to eat. India needs to put the money that would be wasted on this space initiative into population-control measures. Perhaps a century from now India can legitimately examine developing its own manned space capability.
Before you say something is nuts.. do give it a thought.
By your logic.. the US should close down nasa to finance healthcare for all those americans without health insurance.
Also India has an enormous number of science and technology graduates.. some of whom migrate to the US and Europe for better opportunities.. Their talent can be retained by India by providing Grand oportunities such as this. Its not nuts at all.
Poverty allieviation should definitely be a priority but they dont have to stop investing in science and Hi-tech to achieve that.