Budget 24/25 Special: Beyond the Highlights...and some Final Thoughts

06/10/24 • 41 min

The practice of preparing an annual budget dates back to 1951, right after Nepal’s political transition that led to the end of the Rana regime in the country. Subarna Sumsher, the finance minister then, had publicly announced an outlay of NPR 50.25 million. The political context of the country then was such that the budget was not presented in the Nepali parliament but announced via Radio Nepal. It was only much later, in 1959, that a budget was first presented to the Nepali parliament.

Nepal’s budgetary practice has evolved over the years, but it continues to hold significance, and with some fanfare. What is the day like? Picture this: the Finance Minister walks to the podium with a document briefcase wrapped in a red ribbon. Anticipation and excitement fill the air as people eagerly await to hear what's included or excluded in the budget.

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Previous Episode

Sudeshna Thapa on the Shadow of Majoritarianism: Nepal's Minority Struggles

#Ep.100

Sudeshna Thapa is a human rights lawyer and holds an LLM in International Human Rights Law from Lund University, Sweden. She is currently working as Research Coordinator at Social Science Baha, where she is involved in research on a range of issues including gender and social inclusion, minority rights and labour migration. She has previously worked as Research Assistant to the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Toxics.

Khushi and Sudeshna discuss majoritarianism in Nepal and recounting its historical and contemporary manifestations. They explore the illusive nature of Nepali majoritarianism as it persists and grows despite despite multiple efforts like electoral reforms. The conversation also explores effects on marginalized groups, and the role of social institutions in perpetuating it and considers future scenarios for creating a more inclusive society in Nepal.

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Next Episode

Soni Thapa on Nepali Diaspora and Adaptation in the United States

#Ep.102

Soni Thapa, a professor at Humber College in Toronto, holds a PhD in Sociology and an MA in Women's Studies. Her research focuses on gender equality, violence against women, race, ethnicity, and immigration. She recently published "The Nepalese Diaspora and Adaptation in the United States" in the Journal of Genealogy (2024). Soni is the executive director of a non-profit empowering rural women in Nepal and president of the Nepali Women's Global Network, USA.

Nirjan and Soni explore the history and current status of the Nepali diaspora in the U.S. They detail migration trends and community categories, examining cultural, structural, marital, identificational, and receptional adaptation. They highlight key findings from Soni’s study and discuss future research recommendations for better understanding and tapping into the potential of the Nepali diaspora.

If you liked the episode, hear more from us through our free newsletter services, PEI Substack: ⁠⁠Of Policies and Politics⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠click here⁠⁠ to support us on Patreon!!