PM Dahal admits inadequate efforts to curb corruption

KATHMANDU, Dec 9: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said the government is making an effort to curb corruption by forging cooperation among government, private sector and civil society. He, however, said the initiatives the government has taken against corruption are inadequate.

During a programme organized by the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) on the occasion of the International Day against Corruption, 2080 today, he said all state mechanisms were mobilized to eliminate corruption by identifying its root causes.

The government under his leadership was moving ahead for social justice, good governance and prosperity, PM Dahal said, arguing that it has spread a positive message among the people. "As the efforts made so far are not adequate to curb corruption, additional effective measures are imperative," he underscored.

According to him, elimination of corruption is a prerequisite to good governance where people would be delivered service conveniently. He opined that forms of corruption were changing in the wake of technological development, which warrants all sides' attention for its discouragement.

"The Government is firm on enforcing legal provisions by making accountable the concerned mechanisms and officials," PM Dahal reminded, informing that Office of the Prime Minister was functioning as a contact agency for the implementation of UN General Convention against Corruption.

PM Dahal shared that legal and institutional arrangements were made to make the corruption punishable by defining all forms of corruption as crime, extradition regarding charge of corruption, mutual legal assistance and return of property gained from corruption related crime. He stressed the need of creating public awareness against corruption from school level.

Similarly, Chief Secretary Dr Baikuntha Aryal pointed out the need for cooperation and collaboration among the government, private sector and civil society to eradicate corruption.

Clean, transparent and good behaviors are required to reduce negative impacts by defeating corruption with.

Sharing that corruption has become an obstacle to overall development of the country, Acting Chief Commissioner of the CIAA, Kishor Kumar Silwal, added cooperation and collaboration among government and non-government bodies was a must to end corruption. He mentioned that the CIAA was active to establish a corruption-free society.

As per the decision of UNGA to mark December 9 as the International Anti-Corruption Day, Nepal is observing this Day every year.

(RSS)