Zoho Corporation founder and Chief Scientist Sridhar Vembu has raised urgent concerns about India's rising cost of living, warning that expensive real estate, education, and healthcare are creating a demographic crisis for the nation.
The Social Media Warning That Went Viral
In a powerful post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on November 17, 2025, the tech entrepreneur highlighted how soaring costs are preventing young Indians from starting families. Vembu's message quickly gained massive traction, amassing approximately 26 lakh views, 442 comments, over 1,700 reposts, more than 7,500 likes, and 470 bookmarks by 7:15 PM the same day.
"Expensive real estate destroys demographics," Vembu wrote in his afternoon post. "Any society that traps its young people in debt, because of expensive education or expensive housing or expensive health care (or all of the above in many cases) is a society that is destroying its own demographic future."
Three Key Areas Creating Debt Traps
The Zoho founder identified three critical sectors where costs have become prohibitive for young Indians: housing, education, and healthcare. He emphasized that these financial burdens are directly impacting population growth and family formation decisions.
"If you love children, enable lower cost of living for prospective parents," Vembu added, making a direct connection between economic conditions and demographic health.
Public Response Echoes Concerns
The overwhelming response to Vembu's post revealed deep-seated public anxiety about living costs. One user captured the sentiment perfectly: "When housing becomes a luxury, children become a liability. It's not a fertility crisis — it's a cost-of-living crisis."
Another user shared alarming examples from tier 2-3 cities, noting that "30/40, 40/60 sites are selling at 80 lakh to 1.3 cr, which is not affordable even if you are earning 1 lakh per month." This highlights how the affordability crisis has spread beyond major metropolitan areas.
Beyond family planning concerns, users pointed to broader economic consequences. One comment noted that affordable housing would enable "the 20-30 age bracket will be spent on risk-taking and innovation" rather than debt servicing.
Survey Confirms Widespread Housing Anxiety
Recent data from real estate consultant Anarock validates these concerns. A survey of approximately 8,250 people conducted in 2025 revealed that over 90% of prospective homebuyers are worried about rising housing prices.
The findings, released on September 8, 2025, showed the depth of concern:
- 47% are 'very concerned'
- 24% are 'moderately concerned'
- 12% are 'slightly concerned'
- 10% are 'extremely concerned'
- Only 7% are 'not at all concerned'
The primary reasons for concern include affordability issues (41%) and fewer options within budget (35%).
Dramatic Price Increases Documented
Anarock's data reveals the shocking scale of price increases in the residential property market. Average prices have surged by more than 50% over just two years, jumping from ₹6,001 per square foot in the second quarter of 2023 to ₹8,990 per square foot by the second quarter of 2025.
This dramatic escalation has significantly altered homebuying behavior. According to Anarock, only 21% of prospective buyers will proceed with their purchasing plans as scheduled, while 71% face delays—32% experiencing slight delays, 29% postponing by one to two years, and 12% putting plans on hold indefinitely. Tragically, 6% have cancelled their homebuying plans entirely.
The convergence of expert warnings from industry leaders like Sridhar Vembu and hard data from market surveys paints a concerning picture of India's cost of living crisis and its potential long-term demographic consequences.
