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BOOK REVIEW |
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BOOK REVIEW |
Crass-Course On Corruption From government officials
to writers, corruption has became a favorite issue By A CORRESPONDENT In the last five decades, Nepal has already
changed three constitutions and two political systems under anti-corruption drive but
Nepalese society is yet to feel any relief. With the restoration of democracy in 1990, the
third constitution was introduced and the multi-party democratic system ushered under it
is again facing similar trouble. From non-governmental organizations to
government and media to intellectuals, corruption has become a very common and popular
theme to write on. In the name of anti-corruption and good governance drive, donors are
pouring resources. Looking at the various initiatives taken in
the name of eradicating corruption, it becomes clear that the country has never been
administered a right medicine to treat the disease. Instead of applying the right medicine
to cure the disease, the efforts seem like pruning of decaying leaves of a tree instead of
curing its ailment. In the last five decades, one has seen the removal of certain
politicians and civil servants on charges of corruption leaving behind intact a legacy of
corruption underneath. Most of the anti-corruption drive ended up in a political
vendetta and revenge. Thanks to the donors and public pressure,
an elected House of Representatives had passed a bill giving sweeping power to the
Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) - an anti-corruption watchdog.
But soon after the passing of the bill, the House of Representatives was dissolved and
there remained a vacuum to check the actions of unaccountable body like CIAA. Although the book written by Regmi is
different than others, it also raises the similar issues like those carried out in the
general newspapers. "It is imperative for us to gain a different perspective on the
problem - to be able to rid ourselves of the influence of a policing mentality and to
empower people with dignity, authority and hope," writes author. The author says:
"Develop managers and make them fully responsible for controlling corruption, empower
the Prime Minister and reinforce democratic checks, institutionalize the indirect method
of detecting corruption." The invisible office is visible in the way
it has tried to explain the causes and consequences of corruption, especially the mystique
of social tolerance. It is also visible in the manner it has offered the new
anti-corruption agenda. The book is critical of the negative
orientation of the conventional anti-corruption strategies, such as controls, reward and
punishment, checks and balance, anti-corruption agencies and special treatment. A whole
chapter has been devoted to demonstrate why and how such strategies have actually worked
for rather than against corruption. The Invisible Office |
|| Cover
Story || Koirala's Appearance In Court
|| Koirala Reply To The Court || Usaid
Administrator's Visit || Us
Elections || |
Send your feedback to the
editor: spot@mail.com.np |
