Startup CEO's 'open letter 'after his post on intern rejecting Rs 10K offer gets slammed with "Zamindaari nahi jaayegi..." and more

A recent social media post by a startup CEO, revealing that an intern declined a Rs 10,000 monthly stipend, has sparked a heated debate about fair compensation for interns in India. The CEO's subsequent defense of the offer has ignited further discussion, particularly among those from Tier-1 colleges. This incident underscores the growing concern about wage disparity and expectations in the Indian startup ecosystem.

A rejected offer

The controversy began when Vinayak Sarawagi a startup CEO publicly shared his experience of an intern candidate declining a Rs 10,000 monthly stipend offer. He expressed frustration, questioning the intern's expectations and work ethic.

"Zamindari Nahi Jaayegi..." social media reacts

The CEO's post backfired, triggering a wave of criticism online. Many users slammed the offer as exploitative, one user named Ravi Handa commented "Zamindari Nahi Jaayegi...", highlighting the inadequacy of the stipend in covering basic living expenses in major cities.