Corruption in Nepal - Amit Kunwar (Alumni)

Corruption in Nepal is widespread and extends to every sector - from the government to the police, judiciary, education, and health services. And as a result, Nepal ranks #117 in the corruption perceptions index.

For at least a decade, and especially in more recent years, the problem of corruption has been at the centre of the political agenda in Nepal. Corruption is recognised as one of the chief causes of Nepal's underdevelopment and is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon, with multiple causes and effects.

There are several causes of corruption in our country - such as lack of rule and regulation due to political instability, a lack of adequate public awareness, and much more. But above all, the main cause is the low salaries at the municipal level and private sector - which has had several effects on the people and the nation itself.

Some of the major effects are increased inequality and poverty, shadow economy and crime, and the impacts on foreign trade and aid. Various cases of VAT fraud, and massive irregularities in the distribution of relief materials for earthquake victims. Furthermore, the government's failure to control the artificial increase of fuel and basic goods prices after the madhesh agitation and crisis in India-Nepal trade relation - has evidenced that corruption in Nepal has become systematic.

However, no studies have yet been undertaken to estimate the magnitude of this corruption. The phenomenon of corruption ranges from the single act of payment contradicted by law to an endemic malfunction of a political and economic system. And this use of public power for personal benefit has caused a lot of problems.

But what can we really do to solve these problems? Well actually, there is a lot that we can do - such as spreading awareness with the help of sports, TV shows, protesting against corruption, selecting a well-educated candidate, and taking strict action as soon as someone is found guilty of crimes such as corruption.

But the main thing that we should do to eliminate corruption is to avoid participating in it in the first place. Knowingly or unknowingly we are helping in corruption. For example, some people who are not able to pass their driving test are illegally getting passed by offering money to the authorities.

These things are being done easily and the question is, why are we not stopping this? Well, it is because we don’t want to waste our time and know that we can benefit - and yet we blame the government for being corrupt, when we know we also have that equal share in corruption.

So, first we need to change our mentality before changing the nation. And a great leader will surely help the nation to change positively. So let’s start from today to make this nation a corruption free nation, and make this nation a better place to live.