Nepalese people want a corruption-free new-Nepal. Leading figures from the government and the political parties are always promising to put an end to corruption. The civil society and donor communities are also concerned about the mater. All of them are talking about the establishment of good governance, making it the most frequently used post-modernist phrase. They propose different policies and programmes for controlling corruption. Some well-known institutions like the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), Central Bureau of Investigation (CIB), National Vigilance Centre (NVC) and Special Court (EC) have been instituted. By doing so, is it really possible to end corruption within the present system? I doubt.
Reasons for corruption
Regarding the present system, there is a famous proverb in rural Nepal which means - you need to earn money anyway, even by selling the cat's ghee or the body of your daughter-in-law (biraalaa ko ghiu waa buhaari ko jiu becher bhaya pani). Nothing describes the nature of this attitude than capitalism. It's a system of harvesting and accumulating money anyway and by any means. Corruption is one such way. Bribery, commission and abuse of authority are not only different forms of corruption but also the beauty of capitalism. Without which, this system can't exist. It can't run well, even if it exists.
Let's consider what makes people offer and receive bribes, that 'foolish' medium of corruption. The bribe donor has to do some illegal work of his self-interest, and obviously, that interest is either economic or related to it. And why should the government authority or any other person do something that is personal and against the law? Because, by doing so, s/he can get money. Extra money to his regular salary or income.
And now, why does he need money? To be rich or to overcome poverty. Or to pay the school/college fee of the children. May be, to save money for future medical expenses. Or, may be, to buy luxurious things like a car, bungalow, or to give a handsome dowry to his daughter or to go to a casino or dance bar. Hence, two greedy and selfish minds under capitalism produce corruption.
Private schools, private colleges and finally private education, these are the products of capitalism. The expensive medical facilities are also a gift of capitalism. The dowry, casino and dance bars, all of these are characteristic of 'individualist' capitalism or the remnants of feudalism - the pre-condition for capitalism. Low salary, inflation, price hike and the greed for luxury are an integral part of this 'glorious' system. These are what make people corrupt. Until and unless these requirements of capitalism are either eliminated or fulfilled by alternative means, the elimination of corruption will remain nothing more than mere talk.
Neo-liberalism, the new form of imperialism at the highest stage of capitalism, teaches us that privatisation of education is essential because private schools and colleges provide quality and competitive education compared to the free and easily accessible public education system. The sons and daughters of a government official do have the right to study in one of these schools or colleges.
But this super-education comes at the cost of large corporate investment, which demands fairly high fees in return. The ultimate rule of private education tells us that higher the fees, the better is the education. If you want a better education, you need to pay good sums of money. You don't have any other alternative, as described by the neo-liberal policies, to prepare yourself for the cut-throat competition within this system. At least, not under today's neo-liberal capitalism.
Can our government provide enough salary to a section officer, forget the peon or a labourer, so that he can admit his children to a private college to study medicine, engineering or any other technical field? No, not at all.
If one's mother is sick, private hospitals, another gift of neo-liberalism, are ready again, but the only thing one needs to have is a load of money. If one has to pay Rs. 1-2 million for her operation in one of these chic hospitals, how will he manage it? Hence, the system leaves no other way for these poor office bearers other than to compromise on national interest. At this moment, your policies, programmes and institutions against corruption cannot distract him/her from engaging in it.
Supply and demand rule
The poverty and greed for being rich causes corruption. But what compels one to engage in it? It's the system that acts on it. The capitalist regime creates such a situation for the general people, which pushes them to earn and save extra money. For a government official, this is only possible by receiving it as a bribe or a commission. Here, again, the demand and supply rule of 'mighty' capitalism comes into play. Somebody needs money for some capitalist cause. And somebody gives it for some other capitalist cause. Two capitalist causes coincide to give rise to corruption. This is why eliminating corruption is not possible under this system.
Corruption is a systemic disease of capitalism. As we can't treat a disease without killing its pathogens, we can't end corruption without destroying the system that creates it. The elimination of corruption is only possible by eliminating the detrimental root causes of capitalism, namely private education, private healthcare, poverty, hunger, landlessness, unemployment, unfair competition, harassment, oppression and different forms of exploitation. Hence, the only way for ending corruption is to destroy the system of capitalism and to establish a socialist system with equality, freedom, justice, development, peace and humanity.
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