Shaadi.com CEO Anupam Mittal has mandated a weekly work-from-home (WFH) day for 500 employees, a move he estimates will save approximately 30,000 litres of petrol annually. The decision, shared by Mittal on X, aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent appeal to citizens and businesses to reduce fuel consumption and revive pandemic-era remote work practices.
PM Modi's Call for National Interest
Mittal's announcement comes days after Prime Minister Modi urged Indians to adopt work-from-home, online meetings, and video conferencing to reduce the nation's fuel import bill. Speaking in Hyderabad on May 10, Modi emphasized that such practices, proven effective during the Covid-19 pandemic, should be reinstated "in the national interest" to address current economic pressures.
West Asia Conflict and Oil Market Concerns
The Prime Minister's appeal is set against a backdrop of escalating tensions in West Asia, which continue to disrupt global oil markets, particularly impacting critical transit routes like the Strait of Hormuz. India, heavily reliant on crude oil imports, faces potential increases in domestic fuel prices, transportation costs, and overall inflation if these disruptions persist. Reducing unnecessary commuting and fuel consumption is seen as a way to lower India's import bill and conserve foreign exchange reserves.
Broader Appeals for Economic Responsibility
Beyond remote work, PM Modi also encouraged a broader sense of economic responsibility. He urged residents in metro-connected cities to increase their use of public transport and consider carpooling. The Prime Minister also advocated for greater adoption of electric vehicles and called on citizens to temporarily curb non-essential foreign travel, overseas weddings, and luxury spending abroad. Furthermore, he suggested avoiding gold purchases for a year, highlighting the pressure large-scale imports place on foreign exchange reserves.
Farmers Urged to Adopt Sustainable Practices
The message extended to the agricultural sector, with PM Modi requesting farmers to reduce their reliance on chemical fertilizers. He also encouraged the adoption of solar-powered irrigation systems as an alternative to diesel-run pumps, emphasizing that patriotism during a global crisis involves making responsible choices in daily life that contribute to the nation's well-being.