The Viral Debate: Is Rs. 10,000 Too Low for a Tier-1 College Intern? – An entrepreneur recently shared a screenshot of a college student declining a Rs. 10,000 stipend, claiming it was too low for a Tier-1 college student.
This post, shared by ex-software engineer turned founder Vinayak Saragi, sparked strong reactions across social media. When Saragi posted the exchange on platform X with the caption, “I thought this mindset was going away, but sadly it’s not,” he did not anticipate the heated debate that would follow.
Some users criticized the founder. For instance, X user Ravi Honda commented, “Zar,” translating to “the feudal mindset won’t leave this country.” Others defended the student, arguing they had every right to negotiate for what they judged fair compensation.
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Vinayak clarified his position on the uproar. He explained that as a founder working on an open-source framework, the stipend came from his savings. To offset the lower pay, he offered perks like flexible hours and remote work—ideal for a student balancing academics and an internship.
He emphasized, *”The candidate is not wrong here, and I wish him the best of luck. I just shared the screenshot because the Tier-1 debate isn’t over yet.”
The internet was far from done debating. Some questioned whether a Tier-1 college background should automatically command a higher salary, while others argued that startup founders must understand the expectations of top-tier talent.
This incident reignited broader discussions about how companies often exploit inexperienced candidates, offering little to no pay under the guise of providing “valuable experience.” Notably, fresh salaries in India have grown by a mere 45% in the last decade, while CEOs have enjoyed up to 800% salary hikes in the same period.
Takeaways
For founders, this is a reminder that attracting top talent requires more than just passion; it necessitates competitive compensation, even in the startup world.
For students, it underscores the importance of aligning expectations with market realities, particularly when considering internships as stepping stones to long-term growth.
So, what’s your take? Is Rs. 10,000 too low for a Tier-1 college intern, or is it about more than just money, like gaining experience and building connections?
