While discussing the way that the life has changed for an average middle class family in last say 10 years most of the persons below 30 feel that the life has become difficult and competitive. I feel otherwise. The difficulties and problems are our own creation and are more to do with our thinking rather than facts. I hope the following points shall give some ideas to ponder to this generation who shall feel better after reading this small write up.

1. It has become very simple to travel now

Thanks to computerized reservation availability and internet reservation facility of booking your tickets from home. Gone are the days of long lines in front of reservation windows. With the advent of low cost airlines and promotional offers you can travel between Delhi and Bangaluru or Madras in 3-6 thousand whereas you paid 10-12 thousand 7-8 years back. With the availability of cars/ two wheelers on the shelf with availability of easy finance has changed the life of urban commuter. Remember the wait of years for a two wheeler your parents had to undergo.

1. Education has become more accessible

Parents of teenagers are worried to death about what will there child do. Go back to the nineties. If your child could not compete for a state run Engineering College there was not a chance for him to become and engineer. With private engineering colleges even a second class Class XII student can become an engineer now with the help of Educational Loan if necessary. After graduation there are scores of students doing MBA thanks to the availabiltity of professional colleges. Besides scores of career oportunities have become available in media on account of private TV channels and FM channels. Other options are hotel management, event management and sales management. So have less worries for your child.

1. Household conveniences

With the advent of technology prices of consumer durables have come down and with Citi- financial and some other companies making available the loan for durables it has been so easy for a middle class family to think of luxuries. Color TV which costed 12500 in early nineties is available for 8000 after 15 years. Prices of washing machines, microwave owen airconditioners and other white goods have come to fraction of what these were 10 years back.

1. Communication:

There has been a sea change in the scene of communication.Gone are the days when it took years to get a landline phone connections and inconveneince of going to telegraph office for booking trunk call for long distance talks. Every one including a most common person now carries a mobile phone which makes him available and opens up lot of opportunities and the near and dear ones are now not worried about the well being of their loved ones.

I shall continue this tomorrow- in the meanwhile I invite comments from the present day generation on their perceptions on the above.

Gopal