Corruption
The Invisible Tentacles

By Uttam Maharjan

EVERY man has his price. So goes an old adage. Although there is something in the adage, it is not wholly true. There are still some people in the world as would place honesty high above everything
else.

Corruption is raising its ugly head all over the world. The South Asian nations are in the clutches of corruption. And Nepal is not an exception in this regard.

In Nepal, corruption-prone areas may include development projects; revenue collection; purchase of goods and services; employee-related issues like posting, transfer and promotion; issue of licences, permits, visas, passports, and citizenship certificates; and so on. Even in the name of ensuring peace and security, misuse of power by authorities may crop up.

Corruption is a juggernent that would devour investments in development projects thereby impeding the development of a country. It is perspicuous that where there is corruption there cannot be desired development in that most of the funds earmarked for development activities would go down the drain. This is one of the reasons why Nepal has not been able to notch up developmental momentum even after more than four decades of planned development initiatives.

Corruption would disturb the social, economic and cultural fabric of society. It would also dissuade indigenous and foreign investments. It goes without saying that when desired returns cannot be obtained commensurate with investments, the investors will have their hearts in their boots. This will further frustrate development activities.

Nowadays, the issue of human rights and development is resounding throughout the world. Every citizens has a human right. He has a right to live decently. The incidence of corruption in a country would strip its citizens of human rights. So corruption control would invariably make for the development and protection of human rights.

During the 30-year partyless Panchayat dispensation, Nepal could not achieve satisfactory progress virtually in any field. One of the culprits for the poor progress was corruption, which, unfortunately, could not come out into the open due to the authoritarian system of government. Now we have multi-party democracy as a result of the Popular Movement of 1990.

Democracy is an excellent system of government. There cannot be a better alternative to it. For the institutional development of democracy, there must be a corruption-free environment. After all, corruption control and democracy are good bedfellows. Corruption is a force that would gradually eat into democracy to the disillusion of people.

It is worth noting at this juncture that the administrative machinery of a country belongs to the people as a whole; it is not a puppet in the nands of a single party. People have a right to a clean administration. So the employees in the government sector should render prompt and efficient services to the people. To buck them up, they should be morally motivated and empowered adequately as required.

The government is aware of the corruption areas. So the employees working there should be watched. Keeping in view their remnerations and properties, any abnormal accretions to their properties should also be watched. If found guilty, the government should make no bones about bringing such corrupt employees to book. So long as corruption takes place in government offices, the confidence of people in the government offices, the confidence of people in the government cannot be restored.

The political parties may set an example of being incorrupt. For this, the funds used for election purposes should be accounted for transparently. A code of conduct may be drawn up for political party members, ministers, members of constitutional bodies, employees and even businessmen. What is more important is that the implementation aspect should be strong.

It is a matter of dismay that even after 11 years since the reinstatement of multi-party democracy in the country, corruption has not shown any sign of decline. In fact, corruption control is one of the three commitments of the present Nepali Congress government. The others are good governance and security.

There are certain institutions working for the control or elimination of corruption. They are the Commission for the investigation of Abuse of Authority, Special Police Department and Department of Revenue investigation. All These institutions have a common goal. So coordination should be promoted among them. Besides, there is the public Accounts Committee at parliamentary level, which looks into financial irregularities.

The corruption Elimination Act, 2017 has now proved inadequate to keep abreast with the changing times. The act is going to be amended in the foreseeable future, together with the improvement in the Penal Code of the country.

While amending the act, it should be ensured that it will be simple and transparent, with no room for loopholes and complicatedness. Also, the anti-corruption agencies, like the CIAA should be given more teeth and made autonomous. There should not be any politicisation of such agencies.

Similarly, the nouveau riches should be constantly kept under vigil. The compulsory provision for declaring properties while entering upon and leaving office should be put in place. Those found guilty of corruption should be ostracised by society in sharp contrast with the present practice of giving even more social recognition to such corrupt persons.

Corruption is related to lack of mortality, pure and simple. Now moral degeneration has ruled the roost. So to extirpate corruption, the morals and attitude of people should be oriented to clean living. The thinking patterns of the government should change for the better. The morals of political party members, employees and businessmen should get a boost.

The role of civil society and the press in the exposure and control of corruption cannot be overemphasised. in a democracy, people have every right to information. And civil society and the press can dig up and expose every instance of corruption to the general public.

Corruption is a common foe of democracy and development. Elimination of corruption, for sure, will accelerate development and raise the socio-economic condition of the general public. Therefore, it is the duty of all-the government, political parties and people alike-to wage a fight against corruption for the establishment of a better society.

Nepal, The Land Of   Religious Toleration

SINCE the ancient age Nepal has pre-dominantly remained a Hindu kingdom. There is no doubt about it that Hinduism is one of the main religions of the world. The greatness of Nepal lies in its tolerable attitude towards other faiths. It has never preached and propagated against any other religion. On the contrary it has taught the people to regard other faiths with equal reverence and adoration. Nepal has produced many sages, renowned kings and enlightened persons. The hermitage of the sage Valmiki, the birth of the learned king Janak and that of Kapil, the great sage, and last but not the least Lumbini, the birth place of the Buddha have enhanced the glory of Nepal in many ways.

In the western countries and to some extent in the eastern ones there occurred series of struggles in different phases between various faiths and the Muslims and the Christians in particular but in Nepal we have seldom any example of friction among different faiths. Inspite of having different faiths the Nepalese rulers were religiously tolerant and the general masses followed their suit. Equal respect and devotion were shown on Buddhism and Hinduism by almost all the rulers.

The Kirata rulers inspite of having faith in Saivism never objected to the propagation of Buddhism. The construction of stupas and the Bauddha temples testity their religious toleration. Though Mandeo, the historical king of Nepal, was a Vaisnvite he had had Bauddha Vihars and Chaitysa constructed and thereby proved himself religiously tolerant. Amshuverma inspite of being an avowed Hindu let many Bauddha Viharas constructed and founded trusts for their maintenance. Besides he contributed much to the development of art and architecture without differentiating between Hinduism and Buddhism. According to the Chinese pilgrim, Wang wagnche, Narendradev inspite of being a staunch supporter of Pashupati revered and adored the Buddha.

Though the Malla rulers were Hindus they did not lag behind in displaying their policy of religious toleration towards Buddhism. Partapmalla, the famous king of Kathmandu claimed himself as a devotee of Pashupati but offered Vajra at Swaymbhu.

The Buddhists like the Hindus would participate with equal fervour on the occasions of the main festivals of the Hindus.

The Malla rulers gave permission to the Muslims to build mosques and adopt Islam without any hindrance . Moreover the Malla rulers had given permission to the Christians to preach and propagate Christianity in the valley. When the Christians began to play dirty politics in the garb of religion they were driven out bag and baggage by Prithivinarayan Shah. Prithivinarayan Shah, the architect of modern Nepal, embraced the civilization and culture of the Mallas without any hesitation. That is to say he followed the policy of the Malla rulers as far as the policy of religious toleration was concerned.

In the later period of the eighteenth century most of the Buddhists, supported non–violence, followed the principles of Hinduism on the occasions of major festivals. They in the courses of time began to worship Ganesh first on the occasions of auspicious rituals.

The Hindus regard the Buddha one of the incarnations of Vishnu and recognise him as a great sage. Once in a year the image of the Buddha is placed on the head of Pashupatinath. During the Rana regime the Ranas eclipsad the power of the king and adopted autocratic form of government but never resorted to anything detrimental to the norms and values of different faiths. That is to say they, like their predecessors, were equally tolerant towards all faiths: The religious toleration of the kingdom of Nepal is an exemplary in the history of the world.