Corruption in the Public Sector / Public Service (a Social Crime) | Suggestions for Corruption Control

As corruption is a hot topic in public administration and politics, it is difficult to find an exact definition. Corruption can be experienced directly but it is not so simple to explain. In developed and developing countries, it is everywhere in terms of numbers. In this concept, a seven member Corruption Control Suggestion Committee formed under the coordination of Mahadev Yadav, it has been suggested that corruption should be defined in terms of various activities, trends and actions. In this regard, the following points contain the concepts used in the world and in Nepal: 

• Corrupt conduct or bad character of religion, policy, act, law, culture, tradition and authority forbidden by the society.
• Abuse of public office for personal or private gain according to the World Bank and other bodies.
• Abuse of rights not only for the benefit of money but also for any other personal gain.
• All sins committed for personal gain from misuse of public office or property.
• Corruption is the symbol of failed governance.
• Negligence in the performance of duty.

According to these defined bases, the following activities can be termed as corruption:

Bribery, embezzlement, fraud, nepotism, undue influence, use of force to obtain money and information, money laundering, bias in resource distribution, black money collection, kick back, abuse of office, policy Corruption etc.

Reasons / Causes / Factors of Corruption

Numerous reasons for corruption or non-eradication of corruption have been discovered through research. The following are the main reasons:

1) Broad Environment

As public administration is a sub-system of macro socio-economic system, corruption is not considered bad by the society and corrupt culture has flourished and due to not being untouched, the public administration become culture bound. Corruption has also spread due to the changing beliefs of the society towards acquisition of wealth and power.

2) Remains of a Corrupt History

During the Rana period, clerical service was the only qualification and such behavior and culture still exists.

3) Lack of Salary Facility

Salary facility which is not even sustainable; Salary allowance not tied to work and results; The pay scale is not dynamic but stable; Nepal's employees are receiving the lowest salary facility in the South Asian region.

4) Administrative Delays

• Weber's model-based staffing process has been lengthy.
• Allow corruption to flourish in terms of reducing the process or speeding up the work.
• Action against corruption has been very long. 

5) Action Against Corruption Cases have gone Lightly 

• Tendency of not being rude
• Lack of research capacity
• Political interference and protection
• Corruption cases are not handled in a professional manner
• Due to unnecessary pressure groups
• Weak Statutory provisions
• Anti-corruption cases are weakened and such people are either released or released with a small fine.

6) Inadequate Judicial System

• Long process costly, corruption in the judicial system itself
• Inadequate law.

7) Political governance is not good

• Use of unconstitutional power
• Rise of professional politicians

8) Civil society with weak and vested interests

Lack of caution in three aspects of good governance such as political governance, bureaucratic governance, civics governance.

9) Corrupted system cannot be reformed or inevitable, that is, always accepted in any form. 

10) Corruption is taken only as financial currency. In fact, corruption involves a large system and behavior. 

11) Lack of commitment and exemplary character from politicians. King of Thailand, Lal Bahadur Shastri of Nepal, etc. are exemplary character. 

12) Loss of professionalism in the journalist community. 

13. Both the bribe-giver and the bribe-taker should be punished. 

14) Policy and institutional corruption is on the rise. 

15. To see dismissal as a punishment for corruption.

Consequences / Effects of Corruption

Corruption has many direct and indirect effects on today's civilized society of the 21st century. Some of the effects are as follows:

• Corruption kills the very essence of democracy and good governance. People become disgusted with the system of governance and criminalization begins in the society.
• According to a World Bank report, where corruption is rampant, the nation's annual economic growth declines from 0.55 to 15 percent.
• According to the IMF, the amount of black money in the world is 25 to 55 percent of the gross domestic product. Black money encourages crime, derails the market, and destroys the nation's financial system.
• Corruption is growing as a crime of white poverty in an organizational manner.
• Corruption in elections reduces representation in policy making and reduces accountability.
• The pervasiveness of corruption in the judicial system spoils the concept of the rule of law.
• The economic development of the nation has to bear huge losses.
• The cost of development activities increases drastically because there is a higher price to be paid for commodities.
• It destroys the market structure, because it eliminates healthy competition and encourages incompetent firms.
• Brings social deviation, because investment is taken from the social sector to the capital sector in the greed of commission and bribe.
• Due to corruption, the government is under constant pressure as it does not pay attention to the construction standards.
• There will be an increase in fake journalism. Fake will create confusion in the society.

Suggestions for Corruption Control

As there is no specific blue print or check list, multi-pronged political approach or method should be adopted to solve the problem of corruption. Overall, multidimensional and sustainable measures can be a solid approach to its prevention. Some great tips are: 

• Qualification based recruitment and selection and promotion process / system.
• The better the salary, the less corruption there is.
• Corruption will be reduced if there is a projected judicial system.
• Corruption = Monopoly + Discretionary Right - Accountability. Accordingly, reduce monopolies and discretionary rights and increase competition and accountability. Doing so reduces corruption.
• To strengthen the organizations fighting against corruption.
• Allowed general public to have a strong voice through civil society and decentralization.
• Emphasis on moral education.
• To give autonomy to the investigation officer and witness security and investigation officers.
• The posting / transfer of the employee should be done in a systemically correct manner so that the right man is in the right place.
• There should be simplicity in administrative procedures.
• To be limited to the jurisdiction of the government.
• To make necessary arrangements for hearing the grievances.
• Management and implementation of Citizens' charter with compensation.
• There should be independent but competitive and professional journalism.
• To make public procurement process competitive and transparent.
• Enhance creative partnership between government sector and civil society.

Corruption is the black mark of a civilized society. It is a symbol of failed rule. Civil society, non-governmental organizations, government, concerned organizations and the general public should all work hard for its proper solution. For this, political commitment is also very much needed. Even if there is only a commitment, corruption can be controlled to a large extent by amending the existing laws and regulations if necessary. Some recent examples also confirm this element. However, in addition to the above-mentioned points, it seems to be more appropriate for the government to adopt strategic measures such as preventive, remedial, institutional building / development and public awareness strategies for the eradication of corruption. 

Role of Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) for Controlling Corruption

The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) in Nepal is an independent and powerful constitutional body. The Commission has been established and developed with the main objective of controlling improper acts and corrupt practices in public bodies including the state administration of the country. In the current situation where corruption is increasing day by day in the country, it is the only independent and powerful official body to control it. The need for and the role accordingly is increasing. The role of Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) is discussed as follows: 

1) Punitive Role

• Listening to Complaints
• To do research
• To prosecute
• Sending a letter to the authority for departmental action
• To draw attention
• To warn
• To recover the loss
• To give orders to correct wrong decisions and to suggest improvements
• To bring it under investigation if the undisciplined work has been done, etc.

2) Preventive Role

• Formulating and implementing guidelines and code of conduct
• Conducting inspections and monitoring
• Making policy recommendations and suggestions
• To make the government bodies with controlling role aware against corruption etc. 

3) Promotional Role

• To spread information against corruption
• Conducting various trainings
• Organizing interactions, seminars, etc.
• To play the role of coordination between various bodies against corruption
• Expanding international contacts and relations
• To conduct anti-corruption public awareness programs such as article writing, posting, radio program, street drama, etc. through various media.

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