Chennai, India – Zoho founder and chief scientist Sridhar Vembu announced on Monday that the company would reconsider its work-from-home (WFH) policy. This decision comes in direct response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent appeal for Indian citizens to reduce fuel consumption and conserve foreign exchange amidst rising global crude oil prices and the ongoing West Asia crisis.
Vembu, who had previously moved Zoho towards a full work-from-office model in recent months, stated on X (formerly Twitter), "I hope all of us heed the Prime Minister's appeal. As a company, we adopted Work From Office fully in recent months, but we will revisit Work From Home now."
PM Modi's Call for Economic Prudence
Prime Minister Modi's urgent appeal, made on Sunday, urged citizens to adopt several measures to bolster the nation's economy. Beyond advocating for increased work-from-home arrangements and virtual meetings, he called for a reduction in petrol and diesel consumption, a postponement of gold purchases, and avoidance of non-essential foreign travel for one year.
"We got into work-from-home, virtual meetings, video conferencing, and many other methods during COVID-19. We got habituated to them. The need of the hour is to resume those methods," Modi emphasized during a rally organized by the Telangana BJP.
Broader Conservation Efforts
Modi's comprehensive strategy also included promoting greater use of public transportation, metro rail, electric vehicles, and carpooling. He encouraged the wider adoption of 'Swadeshi' products, a shift towards natural farming practices, and a reduction in the use of chemical fertilizers and edible oils, all aimed at minimizing foreign exchange outflow.
Sridhar Vembu affirmed Zoho's commitment to these broader goals, noting, "We have adopted natural farming in our farm, and we are also actively looking for ways to cut diesel use." The Prime Minister's plea underscores the economic pressures facing India, a major energy importer, as global supply chains remain strained and commodity prices fluctuate due to international conflicts.