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All seven provinces of Nepal have unveiled their fiscal plans for 2024/25, in line with the Intergovernmental Fiscal Arrangement Act 2017. A common theme across these budgets is a heavy reliance on federal grants, with a focus on infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, and tourism.

The combined budgets for Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati, Gandaki, Lumbini, Karnali, and Sudurpaschim provinces total over Rs 278bn.

Koshi: Rs 35.28bn

Koshi Province aims to foster a ‘Clean, Happy, and Prosperous’ region with a budget of Rs 35.28bn. The province’s GDP is projected at Rs 903bn, with a significant rise in per capita income from $934 to $1,336. Electricity generation has increased sharply from 121 MW to 577 MW, ensuring access for 97.7 percent of the population. Priorities include agriculture, infrastructure, urban development, and energy sectors.

Madhes: Rs 43.89bn

Madhes Province has allocated Rs 43.89bn, with Finance Minister Bharat Prasad Sah designating Rs 16bn (36.45 percent) for recurrent expenses and Rs 27.89bn (63.55 percent) for capital expenses. This represents a slight 0.5 percent reduction from the previous year. The budget emphasizes education, health, agriculture, and tourism.

Bagmati: Rs 64.54bn

Bagmati Province’s budget of Rs 64.54bn marks an increase of Rs 1.83bn from the previous year. Economic Affairs and Planning Minister Jagannath Thapaliya allocated Rs 26.1bn (40.44 percent) for current expenditure and Rs 36.93bn (55.23 percent) for capital expenditure. Key sectors include education, healthcare, agriculture, and tourism. Additionally, Rs 1.5bn has been earmarked for fiscal management, and a ‘Skill Year’ program has been initiated.

Gandaki: Rs 32.97bn

Gandaki Province’s budget of Rs 32.97bn includes Rs 13.16bn for recurrent expenses and Rs 19.51bn for capital expenditures. Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning Takraj Gurung highlighted a focus on quality infrastructure, production, employment, social justice, and good governance. The province aims to collect Rs 5.17bn from internal sources and anticipates receiving Rs 7.64bn from federal financial equalization grants, among other sources. It also plans to raise Rs 1.7bn through domestic borrowing.

Lumbini: Rs 38.96bn

Lumbini Province has maintained its budget size at Rs 38.96 bn despite reduced federal grants. Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning Chet Narayan Acharya allocated Rs 11.24bn (28.87 percent) for recurrent expenses and Rs 23.58bn (63.09 percent) for capital expenditure. Funding sources include internal revenue, federal grants, and cash reserves. The province aims to collect Rs 7.51bn from internal revenue and anticipates receiving Rs 12.15bn from revenue sharing from the federal government, among other sources.

Karnali: Rs 31.41bn

Karnali Province has reduced its budget to Rs 31.41bn, with Rs 18.75bn allocated for capital expenditure and Rs 4.83bn for local-level fiscal transfers. Minister for Finance Mahendra KC stated the budget’s goal is to achieve ‘Prosperous Karnali, Happy Karnalis’. Priorities include physical infrastructure, employment programs, and cultural preservation. Notably, Rs 1.16bn has been earmarked for the Chief Minister Employment Program.

Sudurpaschim: Rs 31.62bn

Sudurpaschim Province has presented a budget of Rs 31.62bn, with Rs 11.72bn for current expenditure and Rs 17.53bn for capital expenditure. The budget aims to generate substantial revenue from internal sources and federal distribution, focusing on infrastructure development, education, and healthcare. The province aims to collect Rs 1.6bn from internal revenue and nearly Rs 10bn from revenue distribution.

‘Provinces struggle with budget cuts’

Uma Shankar Prasad, Economist and Member of National Planning Commission

Provinces face budget cuts due to limited internal revenue sources, increasing reliance on federal grants. The provincial budgets have decreased compared to previous years. Ideally, more funds should be allocated to provincial and local levels in a federal system, but in Nepal, the federal budget remains larger. This discrepancy indicates a gap between policy and practice.

‘Challenges in implementation’

Chandra Mani Adhikari, Economist

The budgets of all provinces focus on agriculture, infrastructure, and tourism, aligning with the federal budget. However, both provincial and federal levels face significant implementation challenges. Provinces struggle to increase income as the federal government retains 80 percent of major revenue sources and taxes. Grand slogans and projects are often announced without proper planning. No province has confidently declared they could spend 75 percent of their budget; in the current fiscal year, none have spent even 50 percent.

The Dumre-Besisahar road section has been obstructed due to a landslide triggered by incessant rain since last night.

A mudslide occurred at Dalal of Besisahar Municipality-1 blocked the road section since the morning today, said Thaneshwar Chapain, Information Officer at the District Police Office Lamjung.

Chapain said a team has been mobilized to remove the landslide debris from the road and open it for traffic. However, the work has been hampered due to continuous rain. Vehicles and passengers have been stranded due to the road blockage.

Passengers traveling to Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan, among other destinations from Besisahar and vice-versa and those traveling on to Manang via Besisahar are stranded. Even an ambulance has been stuck there. The Dumre-Besisahar road is 42 kilometers.

With roots going back to her childhood, singer and songwriter Rachana Dahal’s journey in music is one of innate talent, perseverance, and breaking barriers in a traditionally male-dominated industry.

“I have loved singing since my childhood days,” says Dahal, her eyes sparkling with the memories of those formative years. “Even at a young age, I was capable of capturing the melody, music, and tunes much faster than anyone else.” 

Growing up at a time when access to music was limited to television channels and CDs, Dahal’s ability to swiftly pick up tunes became her strength. Her brother, a constant companion and music enthusiast, played a pivotal role by bringing home CDs with diverse collections of songs, allowing Dahal to explore various genres and styles.

Her early exposure to English rock bands like Guns N’ Roses, Linkin Park, and Nirvana significantly influenced her musical taste. “The first song I did cover on was from Guns N’ Roses. I was influenced by English songs,” she says. This eclectic mix of influences helped shape her musical style, blending Western rock elements with her unique touch.

Dahal’s journey from singing at school competitions to writing her own songs was marked by a series of personal milestones and professional achievements. “The first song I released was in 2019, ‘Bhumari’,” she says. Despite having written several songs prior to her debut, Dahal had never considered officially posting her music. “I didn’t have any plans. It just wanted to give it a shot.”

Her songwriting process, Dahal explains, is anything but linear. “There is never a concrete songwriting process,” she says. Sometimes a melody comes first, other times it’s a thought or a feeling that demands expression. “Sometimes a song may take 15 minutes to an entire day.” For Dahal, the bridge of a song holds particular fascination and importance. “In any song, the bridge is the most important part.”

However, the path to success has not been without challenges. The Covid-19 lockdown was a significant setback for Dahal who thrives on live performances. “I’m a person who loves performing,” she says. She had to find solace in writing and introspection. “Lockdown was an experience for me. I learned a lot. I wrote a lot.”

One of Dahal’s ongoing battles is with the gender disparity in the music industry. “I feel we haven’t seen a female headliner yet,” she says. This absence of female representation is something Dahal is determined to change. “I’m working hard to change this mentality.”

Her music reflects not just personal experiences but also societal observations. Her recent project ‘Ma Sakdina’ addresses the expectations placed on women in Nepali society. “This song is about the life of a woman which circles around either being a good daughter or a good daughter-in-law,” she says. The album, ‘Janmadaag’, meaning generational curse, encapsulates these themes, urging listeners to confront and challenge societal norms.

In addition to her captivating melodies and thought-provoking lyrics, Dahal has a unique approach to her live performances. “I like to scream as much as possible,” she says with a grin. “I also want my listeners to scream. We have a lot of bottled-up emotions, and how do we get them out?”  Dahal says her concerts are more than just musical performances. They are therapeutic sessions where emotions are released.

“I want people to come to my concerts and scream their hearts out,” she urges passionately. “Let them be like a therapy session, where we can all collectively release our pent-up feelings and find solace in the power of music.” It’s this raw authenticity and connection with her audience that sets Dahal apart as not just a musician, but a healer through her art.

Dahal’s personal life is intertwined with her professional journey. She speaks fondly of her supportive family, particularly her brother, who is also a musician. “The person who has full support from their parents is probably the luckiest person on earth,” she says. Their understanding and encouragement have been crucial in her pursuit of music.

Looking ahead, Dahal envisions a future filled with music, performances, and personal fulfillment. “I see myself being happy, doing shows and making more music, writing more songs, gaining more experiences, and having lots of cats,” she says with a laugh.

For upcoming musicians, Dahal’s advice is simple yet profound. “Break the wall. Sometimes you feel powerful. You are full of ideas, plans, and visualization. The next day you might feel exactly the opposite way and feel down. Never trust that phase when you are down. Always keep your visualization high and explore your music.”

Reflecting on her aspirations for the broader arts community in Nepal, Dahal emphasizes the need for change and growth. “We talk about and praise international artists, but I think it’s our time to reach the international level. Someone has to level up and take a step to break the boundaries.”

An essential part of Dahal’s journey has been her collaboration with Nirvi Kalpo, a company that has significantly contributed to her growth as a performing artist. “With the help of Nirvi Kalpo, I’ve been doing great shows. Nirvi Kalpo has been a huge part of how I’m establishing myself. This partnership has enabled her to connect with the audience and expand her reach.

With unwavering dedication and passion for music, Dahal is not just creating songs she’s paving the way for future generations of musicians to dream big and challenge the status quo. As she continues to break barriers and inspire with her art, the music industry in Nepal will undoubtedly feel her impact.

The Industry and Consumers' Welfare Office, Humla has decided to organize a two-day industrial exhibition in the district headquarters, Simkot.

Office Chief Pradip Regmi informed that the exhibition would be conducted on June 25-26 for the promotion and publicity of locally produced goods.

The local products ranging from food items to clothes and rugs would be put on display.

Regmi further informed that the event would be an effective medium to publicize the indigenous skills and products.

The fair also features the competitive show where the first one would get a cash prize of Rs 30,000, while the second Rs 20,000 and the third Rs 10,000.

It is believed the event being organized at a time when there are complaints of not getting market for indigenous products would contribute to making the economy dynamic.