Episode notes
In the imagination of many, Nepal is a country of majestic, snow-capped Himalayan peaks, ancient temples and serene monasteries, attracting tourists from all over the world. But behind this facade lies another reality. Nepal is one of the world’s least developed countries, where daily life for millions of people is a struggle for basic resources that are taken for granted in other parts of the world. It is an agricultural country where almost a third of the population lives below the poverty line and the GDP per capita is just over US$1,000.
This harsh reality is compounded by a host of systemic challenges. An economy heavily dependent on agriculture cannot provide jobs for everyone, leading to a massive exodus of young people, especially men, to work abroad. According to the 2021 census, nearly a quarter of Nepalese households (23.4%) have ...