Finally, CIAA Acts

THE Commission for Investigation of the Abuse of Authority (CIAA) raided the houses of the Finance Ministry officials who are suspected to have accumulated wealth disproportionate to their positions. Of the 22 suspects who belong to the Revenue Department under the Ministry, 16 have been arrested, and the CIAA officials, who carried out the raid from late Friday evening to early Saturday morning, also seized millions of rupees, huge amount of gold and silver and foreign currency notes from their residence. The seized money and gold will be confiscated if the suspects fail to disclose the sources of their property. According to the CIAA source, the raid, which comes just a day after the CIAA Act 2048 Amendment Bill 2059 was given the Royal assent, was conducted on the basis of the complaints filed against the finance officials, alleging them of amassing undue wealth. The Commission believes that further investigation into the cases, which has already been launched, will expose a large amount of property earned through corrupt practices.

Corruption, by and large, has long remained one of the most condemned yet a prevalent practices in our society, which is yet to accomplish the tremendous tasks of development. There have been hues and cries, since long, from all walks of life against the abuse of authority and financial irregularities that have benefited a handful of high-level officials and politicians at the cost of people's welfare. Despite the public uproar against the evils of corruption, CIAA had been a toothless tiger in the past due to the lack of necessary legal provisions. Now that it has been empowered through the amendment of the related Act, it has started showing what it can do against the corrupt officials, no matter how high post they hold. And the current raid and arrest is just one case. This move has received high acclaim from all those who have been the victims of such an unlawful practice of amassing wealth through unfair means. The CIAA deserves a pat on the back for what it has done and should expand its investigations in the days to come with greater vigour. If the Commission keeps up its campaign, it will be able to net other higher level officials who have abused their authority for petty personal gains.

The Right Thrust

THE Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), as per a news item carried by this daily the other day, is organising a five-day agribusiness fair "AGROEXPO 2002" in Kathmandu from September 18-22. The fair, touted to be the first of its kind in Nepal, is aimed at promoting the agribusiness sectors such as seeds, floriculture, honey, tea, coffee, off-season vegetables, dairy, fruits, medicinal and aromatic plant products and sericulture. The intended AGROEXPO-2002 fair can be said to be appropriate in scope and thrust in that Nepal is basically an agrarian nation where over 80 per cent of the nation's population are not only engaged in agricultural pursuits but are also heavily dependent on it for their socio-economic well-being. Apart from all this, the agriculture sector is still the mainstay of the nation's economy in that it contributes 38 per cent to the nation's GDP. As such, if the nation is ever to forge ahead in the development front and the people's socio-economic status is to be raised, then it looks to reason on the part of all, especially the development experts and planners, to initiate appropriate strategy and initiatives to boost agriculture output and activities. Considering the fact that the government has already come up with its 20-year Agriculture Perspective Plan (APP), this should not be a daunting task or challenge for them. For, the APP, apart from spelling out the main strategy and initiatives to invigorate the agriculture sector, has also laid down clear guidelines for the development planners, experts and concerned authorities to bring about a marked change for the better in the agricultural activities of the people. Nevertheless, for the APP's laudable objectives to materialise, concerted and sustained efforts should be forthcoming from all.

Agriculture-oriented fairs have long being realised by the concerned authorities to be the best forums to disseminate related information to farmers concerning the latest techniques being resorted to by other farmers to boost their farm outputs farmers. Also, to sensitise them concerning alternative schemes available to them to help them uplift their low living standards. Furthermore, agriculture fairs, by bringing all the stakeholders under one roof, are deemed to be the right venues to motivate the farmers to take to better farm technologies or alternative income boosting schemes. As such, the FNCCI initiative to hold the "AGROEXPO-2002" fair should be viewed in this light.