That Mr. Ravi Thapar, India’s High Commissioner to New Zealand, has been recalled on charges of alleged ill-treatment of his domestic help further dents the poor image and reputation of the Indian Foreign Service (June 28). It is a matter of concern to note the alleged colonial manner of lifestyles led by government functionaries posted abroad in Indian missions, and where domestic helps are taken from India and then exploited and abused. Incidents such as these show India in poor light, and reflect a clear violation of human rights. It is time the authorities in the Ministry of External Affairs came out with a clear policy to prevent a repetition of such incidents. The one plausible solution is to immediately do away with the system of permitting officers to take domestic help with them on their postings.
G.S. Rajagopal,Bengaluru