Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu has publicly praised the Tamil Nadu government’s recent reforms in the school education sector, stating that approvals for his rural school initiative were obtained quickly and without any demand for bribes after the change in government.
Vembu’s remarks came in the wake of a series of reforms announced by School Education Minister A. Rajmohan aimed at eliminating corruption and middlemen in the process of granting recognition, renewal certificates and No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to private schools.
The comments have generated political discussion because Vembu also suggested that even a school providing free education to rural children had allegedly faced demands for bribes under the previous administration.
Vembu Praises Faster, Corruption-Free Approvals
Posting on X, Vembu expressed appreciation for the changes introduced by the new government and highlighted the contrast between the current approval process and what he claimed schools experienced earlier.
He wrote, “Our rural school Kalaivani Kalvi Maiyam, which provides completely free education to rural children, faced delays getting approvals from the previous government. Of course, significant money was demanded and we were told that was the only way, even if it is a completely free school. After
@TVKVijayHQ came to power, approvals have happened quickly and automatically. I am very happy to appreciate this positive development in our state. Thank you Thiru Vijay Avl for this refreshing change”
Our rural school Kalaivani Kalvi Maiyam, which provides completely free education to rural children, faced delays getting approvals from the previous government. Of course, significant money was demanded and we were told that was the only way, even if it is a completely free…
— Sridhar Vembu (@svembu) June 24, 2026
He further added, “We applied for approval during the previous government through the normal process. I never posted this on X or anywhere else. We endured the delays and “demands”. The approvals came through automatically after the new government came and I am thanking the government in public. I hear of similar positive experiences from many other people. That is a very refreshing change.”
We applied for approval during the previous government through the normal process. I never posted this on X or anywhere else. We endured the delays and “demands”.
The approvals came through automatically after the new government came and I am thanking the government in public.…
— Sridhar Vembu (@svembu) June 24, 2026
His remarks have attracted attention because they come from one of India’s most respected technology entrepreneurs and because they touch upon long-standing allegations of corruption in educational approvals.
Vembu’s remarks came a week after School Education Minister A. Rajmohan announced sweeping reforms to the school recognition and renewal process. Addressing a gathering where recognition renewal orders were distributed to 848 private schools, Rajmohan said political influence, middlemen and bribery would no longer play any role in obtaining approvals.
He announced that an online system for issuing recognition renewals and No Objection Certificates (NOCs) would be launched on 1 July, ensuring approvals are granted solely on merit. The minister alleged that the process had long been plagued by delays and corruption, but said schools possessing the required safety certificates would now receive approvals without difficulty and without paying bribes.
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