Kathmandu, Apr.26: A corruption-free administration with transparency and honest civil servants with a sense of accountability would result in good governance, the government secretaries said today.

Stating that corruption control, peace and security and good governance are the three priorities of the present government, they recommended for a massive reform in the “old mechanism” of administration.

Administration, for it to perform better and provide quicker services to the public, has to be freed from political intervention, they said at an interaction programme organised here this afternoon by the Reporters’ Club.

The growing cases of rampant corruption coupled with the spreading situation of lawlessness have posed hindrances to good governance, which is an outcome of democracy, they added.

“We have to develop our own system in line with our social structure,” Chief Secretary Tirtha Man Shakya said. “Unless we do that, our slogan for good governance will be a cry in the wilderness.”

He asked all to think positively and act towards achieving good results in the national campaign of administrative reforms and corruption control.

Responding to a query, Shakya said that revival of the much-hyped National Security Council was not for good governance. “It is for maintaining the peace and security situations in the country.”

Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office Rameshwar Shah said that good governance meant the rule of law with justice and equal opportunity to all.

“Home Secretary Padam Prasad Pokharel said that corruption was a social problem, not a legal one, which had to be resolved through combined efforts of all.

Stating that reform in administration would lead to good governance, he suggested the civil society to pressure for such reforms.

Health Secretary Srikanta Regmi said that political interference, lack of enthusiasm, accountability and evaluation and a decrease in work ethics were some of the factors affecting good governance.

Pointing out the need for changes in mentality and attitude of civil servants for administrative reforms, he said, “The present administrative mechanism needs overhauling for better performance as per people’s expectation and aspiration.”

Director of Staff College Shambhu Sharan Kayastha said that corruption control, security and good governance had no alternatives. He, however, pointed out a gap between the government policies and their implementation and said, “This has lifted people’s faith from the government.”