Corruption, coupled with political instability and poor governance, has made Nepal the most corrupt nations in South Asia and one of the most corrupts in the world, a report made public by Transparency International Nepal (TIN) states.[break]
Nepal ranks the most corrupt nation in South Asia, followed by Pakistan and Bangladesh, while Bhutan tops the list of least corrupt in the region, the recent report showed. In the global index, Nepal ranks 146th among 178 nations.
The report says that the world´s one of the poorest countries, Nepal, stands in its Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2010 with the score of 2.2. “Any country scoring below 3.0 in the CPI means corruption is rife in that particular nation,” TIN states.
In 2009, Nepal ranked 143rd among 180 countries with the score of 2.3 in CPI, while in 2008 and 2007, Nepal was ranked 121 and 131 out of 180 countries with scores of 2.7 and 2.5 respectively. In 2006 and 2005, Nepal was ranked 121 and 117 out of 163 and 159 countries with scores of 2.5 respectively. In 2004, the country bagged 90th position out of 146 counties.
According to TIN, lack of seriousness on the part of the government and political leaders in containing the rampant corruption has left the ´impoverished´ nation stand in the frontline of corrupt nations´ list.
TIN President, Bishnu Bahadur KC, said, “With the political transition of the country in 2009, issues of good governance could not gain priority. Therefore, an environment conducive to root out corruption could not be created.”
The report of TIN is based on surveys carried out by Asian Development Bank, Weitzman Foundation, World Bank, Global Insight and World Economic Forum with the help of experts, local reporters, civil society and other professionals.
Methodology of the survey is based on corruption in public institutions and its magnitude; action initiated against corruption and its achievements; demonstrated capacity of the government to control corruption; administrative, political, export-import and contract-related corruptions.
Pakistan and Bangladesh stood in the second and third position in the list of the most corrupt nations scoring 2.3 and 2.4 respectively. Bhutan scored 5.7 to become the least corrupt country in the region.
At the bottom of the CPI is African nation Somalia with the score of 1.1 while Denmark, New Zealand and Singapore become the least corrupt ones with the score of 9.3 each.
CPI score is measured between 0-10 scales. Increase in number signifies towards decrease in corruption.
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