Corruption Control
Strong Measures Essential

By Laxmi Bahadur Vaidya

THE problem of corruption in government, mostly in the form of unethical use of public authority for personal and private gain, is always grave. Its overall impact on the efficacy of public management, particularly on the socio-economic development has become dangerous.

Nature

The problems of corruption are multi-disciplinary in nature. Firstly it is a waste of scarce public resources, which can be used to improve the living conditions of the poor people through economic growth, equity and provisions of public services. Secondly it hits hard on the quality and ethics of administration and personal integrity of public service personnel. Thirdly the continuing distortions in behaviour through corruption affects the foundations of public management systems.

In a least developed country like Nepal the government is rife with corruption because political participation is limited to the wellborn, well-to-do and well-educated who reside and enjoy amenities in urban areas. In such an atmosphere the spirit of complicity has dominated the members of the political parties making amalgamation ignoring their ideological and other differences.This unity has developed into a tacit agreement to exploit the situation at the expenses of the majority citizens who remain outside the public life. In such a situation a culture of participation should be developed and to participate the people need capacity and resources. The greater the involvement of the people in public matters the better this responsibility will be actualised. In addition, decentralisation, open economy and competition as well as deregulatory measures are also essential. Transparency in all areas of government practice is the most effective instrument to control corruption.

However, if bureaucratic corruption is not reduced and if the public is not fairly and impartially treated the officials, any organisation will increasingly become vulnerable to political instability and the process of change will also be impeded. Hence public management should be improved by encouraging openness, transparency and greater responsiveness of the administrative system to seize the opportunity of the momentous changes. Public office should work with the general interest of the public because it is a public trust, and not to fulfill the particular persons. For this purpose efforts should be made to transfer this ideal into reality.

The government must be serious and pay due attention to this malady. In this context ‘ a strong and sincere effort’ is needed on the part of government in reforming the public affairs and maintaining the standard of integrity, openness and transparency as well as in strengthening the judicial and criminal system. It is high time to improve development processes and procedures. At the same time alternative ways and moans should be developed to accelerate the process of development and improvement in strengthening the institutional management.

To mitigate corruption in the country a political, administrative and socio-economic environment must be created in which public and civil services can operate without any interference. Corruption causes various and serious implications in a society. The implications of corruption are not just the loss of revenue and the misallocation of public runds, but also the problem of securing the loyalty and service of noncorrupt bureaucrats. Bad governance and poverty are inevitable consequences of corruption practices. Besides political instability, underpaid civil servants and unresponsive state institutions are compounded by rising poverty and unemployment. Political violence, increasing military expenditures and massive debt burdens are also major problems. All these factors restrict the capacity of government to institute the meaningful institutional reforms necessary for economic development and reducing corruption. However, media and public pressure, collective citizen action and the consolidation of the democratic institutions could contribute much to anti-corruption drive. To eliminate corruption punitive action alone is not sufficient, it must be sustained with long-term solutions.

In combating corruption recently His Majesty the King has constituted a three member high-level independent Judicial Commission for investigation of properties which have been amassed by the politicians and employees after the restoration of democracy. Certainly it can be regarded as a positive step towards curbing corruption which has eroded the very fabric of our society.

The commission is fully determined to demonstrate its autonomy and impartiality in all aspects of its business including in public and private sectors and resist all sorts of intervention. Although much remain to be done, the general public has expected a great deal from the high level judicial commission which will play a vital role in the corruption-related witch-hunt. Certainly, this will pave way for transparancy, good governance, responsiveness and accountability of the government towards the people.

The 21st session of the Parliament has passed four crucial bills drafted to curb corruption. The four bills relating to corruption namely are CIAA (2nd amendment) Bill 2002, Corruption Control Bill 2002, Impeachment (regulation and working procedure 2002 and special court Bill 2002). However, it is widely accepted that provisions written into the laws passed by Parliament become useful and meaningful only if they are transferred into action on the ground with honesty, sincerety and foresight.

Serious Intent

National anti-corruption measures that succeed do not stop the enactment of laws and establishment of institutions but must demonstrate serious intent through realistic and creative strategies for implementation and monitoring. Therefore, linkages must be made within and across societies both to discourage corrupt practices and to enforce anti-corrupption measures.

Child Labour, Health And Environment

By Mohan K.C.

THE sheer number of child labourers globally cannot come as a good piece of news. As per the warning issued by the International Labour Organisation about 127 million children below the age of 15 are engaged in some kind of labour. This is an equally bad news as saying that it is quite severe in the Asia Pacific region where almost 60 per cent of the total child labourers are found.

Not Well

These figures do not point to the fact that everything is going well as far as the rights of children is concerned. The problem is chronic in the developing countries. The works the children are engaged in have an impact on their physical, mental and intellectual well-being.

When the world over voice has been raised for the elimination of child labour, adequate progress has not come about. This is a matter of grave concern. This is happening despite the fact that many countries are a signatory to the convention against child labour and have even included the recommendations in their action plan.

Implementation of the relevant laws and regulations is a problem in the impoverished countries where family income has to be supplemented with what the child earns. For the many industries and entrepreneurs, children are a source of cheap labour. Their voice can be suppressed. Despite the strict laws in many countries the system has not been affected. The case of the developed countries is however different. Not only government commitment but public support and commitment have helped make the society that it is.

Children in rather worn out words can be described as the "pillars of the society" and on whom rests the future development and prosperity of the country. Only lip service has been paid to such a philosophy in developing countries because of the widespread poverty that exists.

With the industrialisation drive, more children have come to suffer because of their exploitation. With it has come environmental degradation resulting from industrial pollutants and destruction of the green cover at an alarming rate. This, according to the statistics brought out by UNICEF, UNEP and WHO, has resulted in various diseases which are affecting children the most. Figures speak for themselves: 5,500 children die a premature a day death a day because of the affect on their health by environmental degradation.

These figures are apart from the high mortality rate of children in the developing countries. This means that the children are the most vulnerable to the devastating effects of the degradation that is taking place in the environment. It is not that awareness is lacking in all. The governments are working but it is not an easy task when the development demands are high and the population growth rate has not been lowered down significantly.

Nepal too has its share of problems as far as child labour is concerned. The number of child labour in the Kathmandu Valley exceeds all expectations. They work as domestic helpers,...... in restaurants, as conductors in three-wheelers, microbuses, minibuses and so on. There are those who work in assorted industries also. It is a big problem tp tackle as most of the children have migrated from the rural parts of the country.

Besides the toll taken by working in works identified as dangerous. The children too are facing the effects of the environmental degradation. The lack of clean drinking water and hygienic conditions has led to the death of many children, specially those below the age of five, over the years. It is estimated that, in 2000, over a million such children belonged to the developing countries. This shows the gravity of the problem. Though estimates for Nepal are not available, the figures can be high. Not all parts of the country have access to piped water. Even this water is often contaminated. For most it is the wells, tube wells, rivers, streams, ponds as source of drinking water. With environmental quality decline and pollution, these waters are not fit for drinking and cleaning purposes. Children being the most vulnerable succumb to the communicable diseases. The deaths that occur are a tragedy but the country’s resources are limited which has made it difficult to make the necessary arrangements for the supply of clean drinking water to all.

Close Relation

The close relation between a clean environment and sound health of children must be understood and steps taken urgently to protect the children from untimely death. Awareness among all and necessary policies and programmes to keep the environment clean must be the priority at the moment before the situation worsens.