Close X
Thursday, November 14, 2024
ADVT 
International

It's Official: South Asia is World's Most Corrupt Region

Darpan News Desk Darpan, 22 May, 2014 11:51 AM
    South Asia is the world's most corrupt region and rampant corruption is preventing people here from breaking the barrier of poverty despite the fact that the subcontinent has attained strong economic growth over the past several years, a global anti-graft watchdog said on Wednesday.
     
    "South Asia now is the worst region in the world when it comes to corruption based on our studies," said Srirak Pilpat, Asia Pacific director at Transparency International (TI), while releasing a report titled 'Fighting Corruption in South Asia: Building Accountability'.
     
    "How does a region with such strong economic growth still have such high levels of poverty? It is corruption, which allows the few to profit without answering for their actions," said Pilpat.
     
    "As long as nobody brings the corrupt to justice, South Asia's leaders run the risk that future growth only benefits the powerful, doing nothing to help the half billion South Asians, who still live in poverty," he pointed out.
     
    Governments in corruption-stricken South Asia must allow anti-graft agencies to investigate and prosecute corruption independently, Transparency International said in the first comprehensive study on transparency and corruption prevention in the region.
     
    The report analysed how well 70 national institutions in Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka stop corruption.
     
     
    In South Asian countries, government and people who want to expose and investigate corruption face legal barriers, political opposition and harassment that allow bribery, secret dealings and the abuse of power to go unchecked, the report warned.
     
    According to Transparency International, Nepal improved from 139th position in 2012 to 116th in 2013 out of 177 countries surveyed in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) made public on Wednesday.
     
    Despite economic growth averaging 6 per cent a year over the past two decades in the subcontinent, 31 per cent of people live on less than US $1.25 a day, according to a World Bank report.
     
    "Corruption in public bodies that should provide basic services to the poor means that economic growth is only enjoyed by the few," points out the report.
     
    In Nepal, corruption in government organisations remained uncontrolled due to political interference, Transparency International's Nepal chapter said.
     
    "Governments will find transparency is the best investment they will ever make. Ordinary people can ensure their communities are served by governments, whistleblowers can save billions by exposing fraud," remarked Pilpat.
     
    According to Transparency International report, 90 per cent of Nepalese believe that political parties are corrupt or extremely corrupt and 85 per cent consider public officials and public servants to be corrupt or extremely corrupt.
     
    Interestingly, 72 per cent believe that corruption in the country has increased over last two years.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Obama arrives in Japan on four-nation Asian trip

    Obama arrives in Japan on four-nation Asian trip
    US President Barack Obama Wednesday arrived in Japan on the first leg of his four-nation Asian trip.

    Obama arrives in Japan on four-nation Asian trip

    BBC's Top Gear apologises for racist remark

    BBC's Top Gear apologises for racist remark
    British television series Top Gear's producer has apologised for broadcasting a "light-hearted" joke by its host Jeremy Clarkson that sparked a complaint of racism by an India-origin actress, media reported Wednesday.

    BBC's Top Gear apologises for racist remark

    Snowden takes up post of Glasgow University rector

    Snowden takes up post of Glasgow University rector
    US whistleblower Edward Snowden was officially initiated as the student rector of the University of Glasgow in Scotland Wednesday.

    Snowden takes up post of Glasgow University rector

    100 Punjabi youths still detained in US for illegal entry

    100 Punjabi youths still detained in US for illegal entry
    An Indian-American community organisation has sought the intervention of US lawmakers for securing the release of about 100 Punjabi youths detained by US immigration authorities in Texas for entering the US illegally.

    100 Punjabi youths still detained in US for illegal entry

    Sri Lanka to deport tourist with Buddha tattoo

    Sri Lanka to deport tourist with Buddha tattoo
    A female British tourist in Sri Lanka has been detained and will be deported for having a Buddha tattoo on her arm, a media report said Tuesday.

    Sri Lanka to deport tourist with Buddha tattoo

    Miss America to defence of teen who asked her for a dance

    Miss America to defence of teen who asked her for a dance
    The first ever Indian-American Miss America, Nina Davuluri, has come to the defence of a teen who asked her to a dance as the news of his suspension for the stunt reached the White House.

    Miss America to defence of teen who asked her for a dance