9 years ago to the present.

  1. 9 years ago, income tax on taxable income between 2 lakhs and 5 lakhs was 10%, now 5%.

  2. 9 years ago, tax on restaurant bills was 13% to 28%, now 5%.

  3. 9 years ago, interest on home loans was 10.3%, now 6.65%.

  4. 9 years ago, 1GB of 3G data pack was Rs.250/-, now 1GB of 4G at less than Rs.5/-

  5. 9 years ago, sky high prices of medicine and stents, now they are several notches less.

  6. 9 years ago, inflation was in double digits, now under 5%. Prices of pulses and vegetables fall.

  7. 9 years ago, there were 17 different indirect taxes, now it's just GST.

  8. 9 years ago, our economy was in fragile 5 group, now it's in BAA3.

  9. 9 years ago, in ease of doing business we were at 160 rank, now we're one of the top performers, it's 77.

10. 9 years ago, Real Estate builders had 'Manmani', now they are bound to deliver projects before deadline under RERA.

11. 9 years ago, highways were made on crawling speed, now it is 70% higher than in 2014.

12. 9 years ago, medicines' prices were regulated by big pharma companies, now the same is regulated by government and has brought them down to 50%. 

The only problem with us, middle-class people, is we never realise all these developments are of us.

Schemes like Udaan, SwatchBharat, JanDhan, GST, Beti Padao and Beti bachao are for us.

And the most important point.

9 years ago, we were not sure who our PM was, now even the world knows about him. He is not a puppet, at least.

Take care of India!

My take

India, under PM Narendra Modi, has made great strides in all fields. May the all round progress continue.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready for Sajish, the khalifa, who fetched up at a half past 7.

To the Pookkode Panchayat office to sort out the house tax issue. Took two hours, phew! Befriended Rajni ma'am, the new superintendent of the panchayat; is helpful.

Lekha could give her clothes for stitching.