Public perception about government bureaucrats is hardly positive in Nepal. They are taken to be the most corrupt, unaccountable and inconsiderate to the people they are meant to serve. They are accused of focusing on enriching themselves and their families, while being largely disloyal to the people and country which pay for their salaries and benefits. Minister for General Administration Lal Babu Pandit has been waging a war against such officials since he assumed office about one and half years ago. One of his arguments for most state officials not being accountable is because either they or their spouses have permanent resident status in Europe or America, therefore, they only occupy posts here to misuse state resources to send illegal income abroad and flee the country in case there is prosecution risk. Recent developments add credence to Pandit's claim and also reinforce public perception.The way Revenue Secretary Nabaraj Bhandari quit, allegedly escaping action for possessing the US green card, exposes height of irresponsibility. Bhandari had, when quizzed by Minister Pandit, denied having PR permit. It now seems he had lied. He submitted resignation in a rather uncivil way. First, he left for the US after remaining out of contact for one whole day and sent his resignation through a "third person." Minister Pandit has termed it a "great betrayal" and a "humiliation" to the civil service and the country. He should be held accountable for this misconduct. Bhandari, however, is not the only person to resign over DV/PR issue. Following the approval of fourth amendment to Civil Service Act—which restricts government employees from holding foreign permanent residency permits and makes it mandatory for those who have such permits either to give up or resign—by the parliament, a considerable number of bureaucrats and security personnel, including Armed Police Force DIG Durga Bahadur Kunwar, have called it quits. As the revised draft constitution also prohibits appointment of a person holding DV/PR in political and constitutional posts, there will be no question of such officials going scot-free. It only inspires effective implementation of the Act.
The big challenge is to make bureaucrats accountable and answerable. Bureaucracy is called permanent government not for nothing. Government changes, ministers go but the state officials remain. This has been true more in Nepal's case—where government changes every few months while state officials holding reins of vital bodies—such as civil service, military and police—remain. Their efficiency and honesty can save the state from failing. If the state officials are honest, they can resist political pressure, help formulate policies for reforms and steer the country to the right direction. Some honest officials—outgoing chief secretary Leelamani Paudyal, for example—have inspired optimism. Irresponsible state officials defame the nation and spoil the system. Every possible measure should be adopted to make them answerable. A single bad official defames entire institution and all officials. We need officials that do us proud, not those who defame. The Civil Service Act amendment has inspired some hope; it needs to be substantiated with tangible outcomes.
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