Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy has reiterated the call to work 70 hours a week, asking young Indians to work hard for growth in the country.
He first floated the idea of a 70-hour work week in 2023 with the aim of boosting growth. While he invited wide-ranging criticism from people and doctors, many - including Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal - hailed the concept.
Murthy, during his recent visit to Kolkata, said that the younger generation needs to realize that they have to "work hard and work towards making India number one." He emphasized the need for Indians to strive for excellence.
"At Infosys, I said we will go to the best and compare ourselves with the best global companies. Once we compare ourselves with the best global companies, I can tell you we Indians have a lot to do" Murthy said at the Indian Chamber of Commerce's centenary launch alongside RPSG Group Chairman Sanjiv Goenka.
"We have to set our aspirations high because 800 million Indians get free ration. That means 800 million Indians are in poverty. If we are not in a position to work hard, then who will work hard?" he added.
Murthy said that he "realised the only way a country can fight poverty is by creating jobs that lead to disposable incomes. The government has absolutely no role in entrepreneurship.".
He said entrepreneurs play a very important role in building nations by creating wealth and generating employment.
"Entrepreneurs build a nation as they create jobs, they create wealth for their investors and they pay taxes. Therefore, if a country embraces capitalism, it will create good roads, good trains, and good infrastructure," he said.
His remarks come at a time when young Indians are losing lives due to workplace stress. Health experts have also cautioned that long working hours may have severe consequences that may not only be adverse to the physical and mental health of the employees but also have serious effects on their personal and social relationships.
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