Former Indian Consulate employee stationed in New York, Devyani Khobragade, has left the U.S. Friday on a flight to India, reports the Associated Press.
"I want to thank my nation for the support they have given me," Devyani told reporters after she landed in New Delhi.
The Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has transferred the 39-year-old diplomat to a new position, after rejecting U.S. claims to waive her diplomatic immunity status against a number of crimes against Indian courts and the laws in the U.S. The primary allegations involved charges of abuse against hired help from India, Sangeeta Richard.
The diplomat exited the U.S. a day after indictment proceedings accused her of breaking the law, emphasizing her involvement in human trafficking. She also paid Ms. Richard what amounts to $1.50 an hour, which is well below the minimum wage. She has also produced papers to the Indian police suggesting that she would pay Rs. 30,000/$500 month to her maid, which is well above the hourly wages. The average wage for maids in India is as low as $40/Rs.2500, which might ordinarily include supervision of children, construction work and cooking.
The diplomatic row over the Devyani debacle has focused on U.S. law enforcement coming down too heavy on the deputy consul general.
The India Today published an article explaining the disconnect between the U.S. and India over minimum wage and human traffic laws specific to domestic help. While these are relevant to U.S. laws, this point is moot in India, where servants, ranging from babysitters to hired help on domestic property rely on their employers for their medical, social, and sometimes personal needs.
In the case of Ms. Richard, who was represented by Safe Horizon, a group that protects victims, said that she fled the Khobragade home after she was denied passage to India after working a full term. The human traffic charges allege that Ms. Richard was forced to work against her weill. She was contracted for a wage of $4500 a month. While Khobragade father told reporters that Khobragade herself gets less than her peers working overseas - a startling take home check for $4,1250.
