by Dheeraj Nanduri
By now, the name Devyani Khobragade must’ve been etched into the minds of everyone who has regular access to the TV and internet. Well to the contrary belief of our youth, she is not any actress or a celebrity, she is actually one of the representatives of our country in the United States of America.
Also, to make sure I get the point clearly across to you, “The Visa Fraud” tag which comes along with her name everywhere is not because she did the Visa fraud for herself nor was it a part of her employment. It was because of her Nanny, in other words domestic help, whom she kept for working at home.
Ms.Devyani was posted to work in Manhattan, New York around September 2012. Yes, the aliens’ first point of devastation and invasion choice in the world. She had brought along the domestic help with her to work for her in US. In this time, she faked the documents provided to the US government to get her the VISA. As per the terms of US employment, she needs to be paid a lot. Trust me; it is impossible to even find drivers for cars at homes at the most parts of the world for their rates.
Committing this mistake she managed to smuggle her across the seas to US. Now, having done all this, a person should tread carefully to avoid any personal damage. As you guessed, that didn’t happen. The Nanny was subjected to ill treatment and meager wages. Well, in Indian rupee terms, it’s a whole another scenario. But the visa with which she came into the country had an in-bound agreement with her employer for everything she was denied off.
The Nanny, Ms Sangeeta Richard, was made to work for over 100 hours per week with not even a single day off. Also, she wasn’t even given a holiday if she got sick. She was just asked to visit the doctor several times and nothing else was done. She was paid only $573/month where she was supposed to paid with a ‘0’ in the end of that value. Ms. Devyani got her into the country telling the authorities that she was actually being paid $4500. I don’t want to even tell the percentage of money she actually gave.
Ms. Sangeeta Richard fled the house around June’2013. Ms.Devyani’s relatives as well as the Nanny’s own compelled her to return to India and not report to any authorities.
ENTER: Police.
While dropping off her kids at school, Ms. Devyani was strip searched and then dragged off to complete all the due formalities for conviction. The US government has announced that she will be facing 2 criminal charges if she enters the US soil again. Having been separated from her family she was sent back to the country on 10th January’14. She wasn’t allowed to leave the country but by the pressure of the government she was granted diplomatic immunity but was sent immediately to India.
Now she currently is in Mumbai with her parents. Her father is an IAS officer who is fighting with her alongside.
Committing this mistake she managed to smuggle her across the seas to US. Now, having done all this, a person should tread carefully to avoid any personal damage. As you guessed, that didn’t happen. The Nanny was subjected to ill treatment and meager wages. Well, in Indian rupee terms, it’s a whole another scenario. But the visa with which she came into the country had an in-bound agreement with her employer for everything she was denied off.
The Nanny, Ms Sangeeta Richard, was made to work for over 100 hours per week with not even a single day off. Also, she wasn’t even given a holiday if she got sick. She was just asked to visit the doctor several times and nothing else was done. She was paid only $573/month where she was supposed to paid with a ‘0’ in the end of that value. Ms. Devyani got her into the country telling the authorities that she was actually being paid $4500. I don’t want to even tell the percentage of money she actually gave.
Ms. Sangeeta Richard fled the house around June’2013. Ms.Devyani’s relatives as well as the Nanny’s own compelled her to return to India and not report to any authorities.
ENTER: Police.
While dropping off her kids at school, Ms. Devyani was strip searched and then dragged off to complete all the due formalities for conviction. The US government has announced that she will be facing 2 criminal charges if she enters the US soil again. Having been separated from her family she was sent back to the country on 10th January’14. She wasn’t allowed to leave the country but by the pressure of the government she was granted diplomatic immunity but was sent immediately to India.
Now she currently is in Mumbai with her parents. Her father is an IAS officer who is fighting with her alongside.
In return to this move by the US government, the Indian government fired a US diplomat from the embassy. A little more than 48 hours was granted to them to leave the country. I just don’t want to comment on that, Incredible India Indeed.
However the issue with US diplomat is that he and his wife were ridiculing the customs of Indians and also the country itself. The issue has taken the backseat of course. I mean, we are more bothered about the ditches in our farm than the potholes in another’s. Also, the US government said that it won’t take any action against this as this wasn’t done in the US soil or the social network concerning US. In simple words, end of discussion.
This has stirred massive media coverage as well as interest from politicians from India and diplomats all over the world. This has also created a slight shake in the stability of the bond between the two nations. However the US did try to mellow it down by returning three Indian sculptures to India which were in the possession of the US government when it was caught smuggling.
Ms. Devyani worries if she will ever be able to reunite with her family. Her husband however decided that the rest of the family shall get back to India in February 2014 and hence this issue stands still for now.
Her nanny however is upset with the fact that her employer got back to India without any trial.
The Major question about all this is, was the treatment done to Ms. Devyani correct?
It is a very highly debatable issue. The Indian government however feels that the US government has wronged treatment wise, but the US government is pressing criminal charges on her for her actions.
Considering it from the standpoint of the nanny, Ms. Devyani has wronged on so many levels. Did the Nanny get her justice? Will She? We just have to wait and watch.
Was all this done just because she was a diplomat or would the country do the same for anyone caught in a similar problem?
However the issue with US diplomat is that he and his wife were ridiculing the customs of Indians and also the country itself. The issue has taken the backseat of course. I mean, we are more bothered about the ditches in our farm than the potholes in another’s. Also, the US government said that it won’t take any action against this as this wasn’t done in the US soil or the social network concerning US. In simple words, end of discussion.
This has stirred massive media coverage as well as interest from politicians from India and diplomats all over the world. This has also created a slight shake in the stability of the bond between the two nations. However the US did try to mellow it down by returning three Indian sculptures to India which were in the possession of the US government when it was caught smuggling.
Ms. Devyani worries if she will ever be able to reunite with her family. Her husband however decided that the rest of the family shall get back to India in February 2014 and hence this issue stands still for now.
Her nanny however is upset with the fact that her employer got back to India without any trial.
The Major question about all this is, was the treatment done to Ms. Devyani correct?
It is a very highly debatable issue. The Indian government however feels that the US government has wronged treatment wise, but the US government is pressing criminal charges on her for her actions.
Considering it from the standpoint of the nanny, Ms. Devyani has wronged on so many levels. Did the Nanny get her justice? Will She? We just have to wait and watch.
Was all this done just because she was a diplomat or would the country do the same for anyone caught in a similar problem?
Kindly provide DD with your vote and comment your view.