Latest news with #VenkateshAlla
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
'Paid ₹30 lakh in taxes, got nothing in return': Bengaluru techie with ₹43.5 LPA package battles depression after job loss
Mr. Salim, a Bengaluru techie, faces hardship after a layoff, sparking debate about social security for India's middle class. Despite paying significant income tax, he received a minimal severance and feels abandoned by the government. His story highlights the vulnerability of salaried professionals and raises questions about the support system for those sustaining the economy. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads A Bengaluru-based tech professional, Salim (name changed), is at the center of an ongoing debate about the lack of social security for India's salaried middle class after a viral post shed light on his post-layoff by X user Venkatesh Alla, the post narrates Salim's journey from a top NIT graduate earning Rs 43.5 lakh per annum to an unemployed father battling depression. After being laid off last month, his company provided a severance package of just three months' the past five years, Salim claims to have paid over Rs 30 lakh in income tax—including Rs 11.22 lakh just last year. Yet, when crisis struck, he says he was met with silence.'The same government I paid lakhs to in taxes betrayed me the moment I needed it most,' he reportedly told with no home loan burden but significant responsibilities, Salim is dipping into his severance and savings to fund his children's education—Rs 1.95 lakh per child expressed feeling 'abandoned from every direction' and has fallen into depression, according to the post. Salim also requested that his full identity remain story has sparked mixed reactions users questioned the expectation of government support, pointing out that even in developed countries like the U.S., laid-off workers don't always receive direct aid. Others defended India's tax system, arguing that public infrastructure, law, and order enable high salaries in the first place."People earning ₹45 LPA are able to do so because of the infrastructure funded by government taxation. Try earning ₹45 LPA in the Gaza Strip. We have to pay for the services and security that enable us to earn our money. People earning ₹45 LPA should learn to live on ₹15 LPA—30% for taxes and 30% for savings. The problem is, someone earning ₹45 LPA often lives a ₹90 LPA lifestyle and then complains when the income stops. This applies to both the rich and the poor. We earn, pay, and live in proportion to the resources we consume. One needs to plan accordingly," wrote one commented, "Why should the government take care of him just because he paid taxes? Every citizen pays taxes in one form or another—Income Tax, GST, Customs, Excise, etc."Another wrote, "What makes you feel so self-entitled? Paying taxes isn't an insurance policy against unemployment ."Some criticized poor financial planning rather than the state. 'This is the same everywhere. The issue isn't tax—it's a lack of long-term planning,' one comment others called for structural reforms: 'Expand the tax base, bring more people into the formal economy. Only then can we reduce the burden on salaried individuals.'But not everyone was hopeful. One user summed up the cynicism: 'Even if today's rulers are voted out, the next ones might be worse—some want to redistribute even our lifetime savings.'As Salim's story resonates with many professionals who feel caught between high contributions and low returns, it reignites a deeper question: Does India protect the very people who help sustain its economy?
NDTV
3 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
"Paid Rs 30 Lakh Taxes, Got Zero Support": Laid off Bengaluru Techie Says Falling Into Depression
A viral social media post by Venkatesh Alla has sparked a heated online debate about job safety in India. The post shares the story of Mr Salim, a top-performing engineer from a National Institute of Technology (NIT) who was laid off from a leading tech firm with a lucrative salary of Rs 43.5 lakh per annum. Notably, Mr Salim had paid over Rs 30 lakh in income tax over five years, including Rs 11.22 lakh in the last year alone, yet received zero support after losing his job. He was given only three months' severance pay by the company. Now unemployed, Mr Salim is relying on his severance pay and savings to fund his children's education, which costs Rs 1.95 lakh per child per year. "Now jobless, thankfully without a home loan, he's using his savings and severance to pay for his children's education, ₹1.95 lakh per child, per year. That's where his "reward" is going. Worse, he fell into depression. He said he felt like he was suddenly on the road, abandoned from every direction. The same government he paid lakhs to in taxes betrayed him the moment he needed it most," the post read. "This is what happens to genuine taxpayers in India. You pay. You comply. You contribute. And when you're in crisis, you're on your own. This country desperately needs to change. Because right now, it's failing the very people who carry it forward," the post added. See the post here: Just got a message from Mr. Salim a topper from his NIT, working in Bangalore with a ₹43.5 LPA package laid off last month. The company handed him just 3 months' severance. Last year alone, he paid ₹11.22 lakhs in income tax. In just 5 years, over ₹30 lakhs gone into the… — Venkatesh Alla (@venkat_fin9) June 29, 2025 The tweet has sparked a heated debate about the lack of support for India's salaried taxpayers, especially during crises. Several users advocated for key reforms, including structured unemployment benefits to provide financial support during job loss, mental health programs to address related emotional struggles, and tax reforms that offer tangible returns for salaried contributors, potentially providing a safety net in times of crisis. However, some users disagreed on whether the government should assist in such cases. One user commented, "You want the government to give him a job because he lost his job? Does this make any sense?" Another wrote, "This is the same everywhere in the world. The problem isn't taxation, it's the lack of long-term financial planning." A third said, "The only solution is to expand the tax base, bring more into the formal economy. Only then can we reduce the burden on the salaried middle class." A fourth added, "Layoffs are always a tragedy and it's difficult for young and brilliant minds to get fired. I hope the brilliant guy will get the job soon. But what's the relationship between getting fired and paying taxes? It happens all the time in US. India can't sustain the European model of unemployment payment."
India.com
3 days ago
- Business
- India.com
Taxed & Abandoned: Bengaluru Techies Layoff Rant Sparks Online Debate
New Delhi: A powerful social media post highlighting the plight of a high-earning software engineer laid off in Bengaluru has sparked widespread debate online about India's social safety net and the treatment of its salaried middle class. In a post that has since gone viral on X, user Venkatesh Alla shared the story of a friend, referred to only as Mr. Salim, a top-performing engineer from an NIT who was recently laid off from a leading tech firm. Despite earning a lucrative Rs 43.5 lakh per annum package and contributing more than Rs 30 lakh in income tax over five years, Salim found himself without any government support when his job was abruptly terminated. 'Last year alone, he paid Rs 11.22 lakhs in income tax. In just 5 years, over Rs 30 lakhs gone into the system, and in return, he got zero support. No safety net. No job security. No respect for his contribution,' the tweet reads. Just got a message from Mr. Salim a topper from his NIT, working in Bangalore with a ₹43.5 LPA package laid off last month. The company handed him just 3 months' severance. Last year alone, he paid ₹11.22 lakhs in income tax. In just 5 years, over ₹30 lakhs gone into the… — Venkatesh Alla (@venkat_fin9) June 29, 2025 The post goes on to reveal that Salim received only a three-month severance package from his company and is now relying on his savings to cover his children's education expenses, Rs 1.95 lakh per child, per year. With no housing loan to worry about, he is slightly better off than many others in his situation, yet the emotional toll has been severe. 'He fell into depression. He said he felt like he was suddenly on the road, abandoned from every direction,' the post continues. 'The same government he paid lakhs to in taxes betrayed him the moment he needed it most.' The tweet has ignited a larger conversation about the lack of systemic support for India's salaried taxpayers, particularly during times of personal or professional crisis. The Indian middle class, especially those in the private sector, has long voiced concerns over the imbalance between high taxation and minimal direct benefits. With no robust unemployment insurance, universal healthcare, or mental health support systems in place, laid-off professionals often find themselves in free fall. Venkatesh's post concludes with a stark indictment of the current state of affairs: 'This is what happens to genuine taxpayers in India. You pay. You comply. You contribute. And when you're in crisis, you're on your own. This country desperately needs to change. Because right now, it's failing the very people who carry it forward.' The post has garnered thousands of likes, shares, and comments, many echoing similar frustrations or sharing personal stories. Several users have called for the introduction of structured unemployment benefits, mental health programs, and tax reforms that offer tangible returns for salaried contributors. While the identity of Mr. Salim has been kept confidential at his request, his story is resonating far and wide, putting a human face to the broader issue of economic insecurity, even among India's most educated and skilled professionals. Netizens Reaction The post triggered intense reactions online, with opinions sharply divided on whether the government should be expected to provide support in such situations. Some users outright challenged the expectation. 'How many people laid off in Silicon Valley receive direct aid from the government?' one user questioned. 'Everyone pays taxes around the world, but that doesn't automatically entitle individuals to state intervention after job losses.' Others came to the defense of the tax system, arguing that high incomes are possible only because of the infrastructure and stability provided by the state. 'Try earning ₹45 LPA in Gaza,' a user pointed out. 'Taxes sustain the system that enables such salaries. You can't live a Rs 90 LPA lifestyle on a Rs 45 LPA income and then blame the government when things don't go your way.'
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
‘Paid ₹30 lakh in taxes, got no support': Bengaluru techie's layoff story divides internet
A social media has stirred debate after it shared the story of a high-earning Bengaluru techie who was laid off despite a strong academic and professional record, raising questions about India's lack of social safety nets for the salaried middle class. The post sparked sharp reactions online, with users divided over what support, if any, should be expected from the government in such cases.(Pixabay) The techie, identified only as Mr Salim in the post, was a top-ranking graduate from NIT and until recently held a job in Bengaluru with a ₹ 43.5 lakh per annum package. According to the X user Venkatesh Alla who shared the story, Salim was laid off last month with just three months of severance pay. (Also Read: 'Mangalore should be Bengaluru coastal': Outrage erupts over Karnataka's renaming spree, 'real-estate greed' slammed) Check out the post here: In the message, Salim reportedly said he had paid over ₹ 30 lakh in income tax over the last five years, including ₹ 11.22 lakh just last year. Now unemployed, and without a home loan, he is relying on his severance and savings to fund his children's education, ₹ 1.95 lakh per child, per year. The emotional toll has been steep, with the techie saying he felt "abandoned from every direction" and slipped into depression. 'The same government I paid lakhs to in taxes betrayed me the moment I needed it most,' Salim said in the message. He requested the X user not to reveal his identity. The post, which has since gone viral, concluded with a strong critique of the Indian system: 'This country desperately needs to change. Because right now, it's failing the very people who carry it forward.' Mixed reactions The post sparked sharp reactions online, with users divided over what support, if any, should be expected from the government in such cases. Some questioned the premise outright. 'Can you tell me how many people laid off in Silicon Valley get direct government support?' one user asked. 'Everyone pays taxes globally, but that doesn't mean the government steps in for individual job losses.' Others defended the tax system, arguing that high salaries are made possible by government-created infrastructure and stability. 'Try getting ₹ 45 LPA in Gaza,' one user wrote. 'We pay taxes for the system in which we earn our salaries. You can't live a ₹ 90 LPA lifestyle on a ₹ 45 LPA income and then blame the state when things go wrong.' Another pointed out, 'This is the same everywhere in the world. The problem isn't taxation, it's the lack of long-term financial planning.' Still, some users took the opportunity to call for broader reforms. 'The only solution is to expand the tax base, bring more into the formal economy. Only then can we reduce the burden on the salaried middle class.' Others, however, remained cynical about change, 'Even if the current monsters are voted out, the next in line might be worse. One's planning to snatch away my lifelong savings and redistribute it.' (Also Read: 'Ticking time bomb': Bengaluru resident slams city's infrastructure after chaotic early morning incidents)
Mint
14-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
Laptop turns into ‘frying pan': User shares nightmare of shopping online, warns, ‘See you in Consumer Court'
A man named Venkatesh Alla shared his bad experience with Flipkart on X (formerly Twitter). He ordered a Dell laptop for his sister from the e-commerce platform for ₹ 43,158. It was her very first. The laptop arrived on May 11 through Open Box Delivery. However, the delivery person refused to wait while she checked if it powered on. 'The moment we charged the laptop, it turned into a frying pan. The keyboard got so hot, my sister couldn't even rest her palms on it. We thought maybe it's just updates heating it up… we were wrong,' the user wrote. The next day, it got even worse during simple Excel use. The fan roared, the battery drained fast, and it became too hot to touch. Venkatesh reportedly contacted Flipkart support, who shockingly told him to take the brand-new laptop to a service centre 50 km away. Interestingly, they did not offer a replacement. He later found Flipkart had quietly changed its return policies. Even faulty products won't be replaced. Customers only get repairs, making them feel cheated. 'So basically, refurbished junk is sold as new, and you bear the cost of time & travel,' Venkatesh called out Flipkart. Frustrated, he's now filing a complaint in consumer court and urging others with similar stories to speak up. '90% of the complaints on X about Flipkart are about one thing, their pathetic return policy. Even genuine customers are being harassed with mindless rules and horrible service,' he wrote. 'Flipkart, gear up. See you in Consumer Court. I'm not backing down,' he concluded. LiveMint has contacted Flipkart for a response and is awaiting a reply. Venkatesh's social media post, shared at 7:40 PM on May 13, has gone viral. It has been seen by over 1.4 million users. 'Thanks for the heads-up! I was just about to buy a Dell laptop from Flipkart or Amazon—safe to say, that plan's going straight to the trash after hearing about your ordeal,' wrote one user. Another user wrote, 'Lesson - never do a high involvement purchase online.' Another X user, Anil Sachdeva, shared their disappointment with Flipkart. At first, he was happy with the service and received products like iPhones and an Apple Watch without issues. But later, problems began. He suffered damaged packaging and even received an expired product. He had to call customer care around 50 times to return it. Sachdeva now feels Flipkart's service is now worsening.
