Where Does the Budget Go? A Citizen’s Guide to Tracking Public Spending in Nepal
Why this matters
Every rupee of public money is yours. When budgets don’t match outcomes—roads not finished, hospitals under-equipped—citizens can (and should) ask questions.
Quick red flags to watch
- Cost overruns without explanation
- Repeated extensions of deadlines
- Single-bid contracts for large projects
- Vague line items like “miscellaneous” and “consultancy”
- No published completion report or photos
How to track public spending (simple workflow)
- Find the plan: Visit official portals to get the budget line (project name, cost, department).
- Check the paper trail: Look for procurement notices, contract award info, and timeline.
- Compare promise vs progress: Site visits, local news, and community photos help verify.
- Read audit notes: Auditor-General observations often list unresolved irregularities.
- File an RTI request: Ask for expenditure details, contractor names, variation orders, and milestone reports.
- Document safely: Take photos (with dates), note GPS if possible, and keep receipts/screenshots.
RTI request template (copy/paste)
Subject: Request for information on project [Project Name, FY ____ ]
Information requested:
- Contract copy and variation orders
- Total amount disbursed to date
- Latest physical progress report and photos
- Names of supervising officials/firm
- Reasons for delay or cost escalation (if any)
What to do if you find red flags
- Report to BCANP via our form (Voice of People) with documents and dates.
- Escalate locally: Ward office, project office, or public hearing.
- Stay factual: Avoid naming individuals unless you have verifiable, published evidence.
- Protect yourself: Share sensitive docs privately; blur personal data before public posts.
Take action
- Join our Corruption Watch volunteer circle to help verify projects.
- Subscribe for updates and guides.
Disclaimer: This article provides general civic guidance and does not make allegations against any specific person or entity.
