On June 14, 2026, EPIC successfully concluded the third episode of the Baat-Cheet Series, bringing together participants from diverse backgrounds to discuss the upcoming Madhesh Province budget, scheduled for announcement on June 16 (Asar 1, 2083). The discussion focused on key priorities such as agriculture, education, health, infrastructure, employment, and improving overall living standards in Madhesh, with strong emphasis on startups, entrepreneurship, and industrial development to address youth migration and foreign employment.
A key concern raised was the gap between policy and implementation. Participants noted that although government plans often appear strong on paper, a significant portion of the provincial budget remains unutilized each year due to political instability, corruption, lack of skilled manpower, and weak institutional capacity. Education quality was also highlighted as a serious issue, with Madhesh’s literacy rate at around 63.5%, the lowest among all provinces in Nepal, calling for urgent investment in human capital and education reform.
Participants appreciated ongoing initiatives such as “Made in Madhesh, Samriddh Madhesh,” “Utpadanshil Madhesh, Aatmanirbhar Desh,” and “Aafnai Pradesh, Aafnai Rojgari,” but noted that many of these programs remain weak in implementation. Overall, the discussion concluded that while Madhesh has strong policy vision and potential, the real challenge lies in effective implementation and ensuring that budget plans translate into tangible outcomes on the ground.