Book Review (Spotlight Weekly)

On Public Administration

Senior civil servant Yubaraj Pandey discusses the issue of public administration citing Nepalese experiences

By A CORRESPONDENT

Despite long experiences in the statecraft and civil service, the modernization of civil service in Nepal begun only after the establishment of democracy in 1950. Traditionally, Nepal’s civil service was based upon the whims of the rulers - recruitment and promotion did not have any specific criteria.

Pandey - director general at the Department of Prison Management – has been in civil service for long time. Before being posted to head the Prison Management Department, Pandey also served as the director general of the Department of Information.

At a time when Nepalese civil service is implementing series of administrative reform activities, Pandey’s book will be helpful to understand how it has been evolving.

From theoretical approach to practical experiments in Nepal, Pandey analyzes various aspects of administration. Divided into five different chapters, the book begins with the meaning and description of public administration further delving into management concept and its theories, administration and management, evolution of the study of public administration, bureaucracy, its merits an alternatives and new public management.

In the second chapter, Pandey discusses about strategic management including performance management, work efficiency and performance-related pay. The third one is related to the morale. Pandey discusses ethics/morality in administration, professionalism, professional standard, the role and function of government, public service and delivery system, quality of products and service and quality management and strategy for marketing public services.

One of the important aspects of Pandey’s book is that he explains theoretical aspects citing examples throughout the various phases of growth of civil service in Nepal. In the fifth chapter, Pandey discuses on issues of reorientation of public sector management towards achieving results objectives in Nepal. Discussing on result oriented administration management; Pandey explains theory and practice of the system in Nepal.

Along with dealing in other matters, Pandey also explains the issue of corruption. From discussing theoretical parts of corruption to corruption in Nepalese civil service, Pandey clearly spells out what are the lacunas and what is the state of corruption in Nepalese civil service.

The issues of corruption in Nepal are not new. In the last five decades following the fall of Rana regime, Nepal has seen many political upheavals that were, among others, generated through the popular cause of controlling corruption. Whether it was first elected government or dissolved Panchayat and recently restore multi-party democracy, the opposition always chanted the popular slogans of corruption to destabilize the political process of the day. Despite the existence of corruption at different levels, the prevalent anti corruption drives only killed the patient but did not cure the real disease.

Pandey, too, explains the efforts taken against corruption including the state of corruption here. He also highlights the reasons behind the failure in corruption control programs. Analyzing various phases of anti-corruption drives; Pandey shows weakness in the strategies and measures adopted by Nepal to fight corruption.

He concludes his book by writing on a theme of public accountability. He explains how organizations working and methods used to make public accountability system are ineffective.

Public Administration and

Public Affairs Management

(Some Important Issues On Public Affairs Management)

By: Yubaraj Pandey

Price: Rs. 300.00

Published by Bidhyarthi Pustak Bhandar in 2004

Pages: 553