Zoho CEO Sridhar Vembu Urges Reverse Migration to Villages

• Zoho CEO Sridhar Vembu advocates for a conscious shift back to villages, addressing decades of talent drain from rural areas.
• The discussion began with an X post highlighting cultural and demographic shifts in Tamil Nadu's temple towns due to migration.
• Vembu noted abandoned homes and neglected temples in Thanjavur district, emphasizing the need to reverse this trend.
• Zoho is actively supporting this by establishing rural offices, building a campus near Kumbakonam, and funding local startups like Yali Aerospace.
• Online debate emerged, with some supporting rural revival while others cited challenges like water scarcity, governance gaps, and economic realities as drivers of migration.

Key Questions Answered

Can rural areas offer competitive job opportunities?

Yes, rural areas can offer competitive job opportunities, with job fairs and expanding opportunities in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.

What challenges hinder reverse migration to villages?

Challenges hindering reverse migration to villages include water scarcity and governance gaps.

Will Zoho's model inspire other tech companies?

It is unclear if Zoho's model will inspire other tech companies, but Zoho CEO Sridhar Vembu is advocating for a return to villages and is implementing this by building tech infrastructure outside citi