Force de majeure Vs the power of corruption!!

Developing countries like Nepal, India, Pakistan are known for abusing the aid received from various countries to rehabilitate the effected people and re-build the basic infrastructure and houses, after experiencing the Natural Calamity.

As per the latest information, Nepal received a substantial International aid and it is still pouring in, in kind and cash. It is time for the UN to run into action and play a very significant role in channelizing this aid to the needy and effected people. It is only then we can avoid the vested Interest operating at its creative best during this period of rehabilitation and re-building.

Nepal government must handover this responsibility to UN and the UN in turn should create a Special Purpose Organization (SPO) by engaging International Citizens nominated by the Nations that promised /announced aid. It is only through this SPO shall all the aid shall be utilized. The SPO shall make all the transactions in its website and can seek fresh donations/aid. This is the role the United Nations shall play rather than being a meek spectator and doing the desk work for the International Affairs—though they are important for the whole mankind.

The role of UN needs a thorough review and it shall be freshly articulated in the background of changing needs of the people in the world and the technological developments taking place in all walks of life. We are not far away to see a day where Nations will start converting their Military Budgets into Developmental Budget in a phased manner. War in Today's world has lost its relevance and so would be the defense system for such war. The world needs to wage a war against bridging the gaps that exists among Nations in terms of Power, Water, Food, Housing, Education, Employment, Health and Sanitation. The UN can play a very significant role.

The Natural Calamity experienced by Nepal shall be the starting point for this change. Already people of Nepal are not happy with the response of their government and the political leadership. Leaving the aid in the hands of the government machinery that does not receive the public approval would tantamount to showing the food to an hungry person and never allow him to have it. We had seen several such corrupt practices in many relief operations. We the so called developing Nations are known for seeking help and later never show how the aid was used. No accountability is the hall mark of our governing system and this shall not be allowed to exist at least in using the International Aid. Best example is the Hudhud cyclone that Visakhapatnam experienced. How much aid was received and how it was spent are the unknown details even today.

Some of the suggestions for creating the SPO:

1. Let the aid be deposited at one place or distributed directly from the aid giving nation to the beneficiary as per the nature of the aid

2. SOP creates a website and published on daily basis the progress of the relief work and aid distribution

3. The aid received to re-build the damaged infrastructure or houses shall be allocated purely based on the discretion of the SPO taking into account the socio-economic and ecological requirements.

4. SOP shall be designed on the lines of any business organization with CEO as its head. The choice of appointing the CEO shall be given to the 1st ranked Nation in giving the aid. The CeO shall choose the best talent offered by the Nations and the Local Government and start functioning from a public building provided by the Local Government/ Relief seeking Nation.

5. The pay and allowances of the employees shall be paid by the respective Nation and they shall not be booked to the total aid received.

6. The UN shall prepare and share the Norms to be complied with and the Accounting Standards and MIS Report Formats to be followed so that all such Relief Operations are uniform in nature and they can be improved further.

7. All the aid / contributions received through all agencies both public and private shall only channelized through SPO.

8. SPO must ensure that it makes the Aid in kind and cash utilized to the Zero level

9. The SPO at the end of the mission shall give away prizes (to be funded by UN) for the best Relief Facilitators.

10. UN must have a special Link in its website for the SPOs

I do not know - rather I failed to reach out to UN to share this - as to whom I shall send this suggestion. I feel that Hans India can publish this and thereby give a needed publicity for this kind of thinking. Let's pray that our world is not going to witness any more Natural Calamities and ensure that we do not disturb Mother Nature any more.

Dr. IVNS Raju

PS: The views expressed in the article are those of the author and does not reflect the views of the organisation