CM Acharya stresses transparency at leadership levels to combat corruption

By Kapil Gyawali,Siddharthanagar, Oct. 27: Chief Minister of Lumbini Province, Chet Narayan Acharya, emphasised the importance of transparency at all leadership levels to combat corruption effectively. 

Speaking at an interaction programme in Bhairahawa on Saturday about the National Strategy and Action Plan, 2081 against Corruption, Acharya stated that transparent practices are essential for good governance and reducing corruption.

Acharya suggested that chief district officers should have the authority to address corruption complaints at the ward level, emphasising the need to reinstate their representative role to manage irregularities in local areas. 

“If we are all transparent, corruption will naturally decrease,” he noted, urging seriousness on the issue.

Acharya informed that the provincial government is finalising a five-year strategic plan aimed at improving governance in Lumbini Province to achieve a corruption-free environment. 

He stated that, in alignment with this plan, they are focused on minimising both direct and indirect expenses.

The Chief Minister highlighted that ethics and honesty are crucial for reducing corruption, especially among political leaders, officials and civil servants. 

CM Acharya expressed concern over the weakening honesty in various sectors, including political leadership, government staff, activists, civil society and ordinary citizens. “We all need to be honest and fair,” he said, underscoring the importance of integrity across all levels of society.

The programme, organised by the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers of Nepal, focused on implementing the United Nations Convention Against Corruption and creating a national anti-corruption strategy. 

The strategy aims to ensure equitable access to government services and to foster good governance through transparency and accountability.

The strategy also seeks to control corruption across political, administrative, judicial and social sectors. 

Emphasis was placed on enhancing the role of provincial and local governments in implementing anti-corruption measures, identifying corruption-prone areas, converting services to online formats and installing CCTV in high-traffic offices. 

Other measures include publicising budget allocations, enforcing codes of conduct and tracking non-compliance records.

Joint Secretary Rajendra Thapa from the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers presented the working paper on the National Strategy and Action Plan against Corruption.