January 10 2016
In most countries they are the government’s unsung heroes, toiling behind the scenes to ensure its laws and policies are implemented properly.
But in Nepal civil servants have become the unlikely centre of attention after a TV talent show-style scheme was launched to find the most honest bureaucrat in the country.
And after more than 50,000 votes were cast via text message and social media, it this week crowned the district officer Pradip Raj Kandel as Nepal’s “Integrity Idol.”
The unusual contest is in its second year and hopes to to encourage honesty in the corruption-ridden Himalayan nation, where many are often forced to pay bribes for essential services. Nepal is ranked 126th out of 175 countries in anti-graft watchdog Transparency International’s global corruption perception index.