17th June 2025, Kathmandu
In a significant move set to bolster investigative economic journalism in Nepal, the ‘Shrawan Kumar Agrawal Nepalese Association of Financial Journalists (NAFIJ) Fellowship’ has been officially launched.
Shrawan Kumar Agrawal NAFIJ Fellowship
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed this Tuesday, marking a collaborative effort between the Nepal Association of Economic Journalists (NAFIJ) and prominent industrialist Rajesh Kumar Agrawal, who serves as President of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) and Executive Chairman of RMC Group.
Pioneering Fellowship for Economic Journalists
The core of this landmark agreement is the establishment of a substantial seven lakh Nepali rupees endowment fund. This fund, a generous personal contribution from Rajesh Kumar Agrawal, is dedicated to supporting the ‘Shrawan Kumar Agrawal NAFIJ Fellowship’. The MoU was formally signed by NAFIJ President Menuka Karki and CNI President Rajesh Kumar Agrawal, symbolizing a shared commitment to journalistic excellence.
This initiative holds particular significance as it represents the first-ever endowment fund established at NAFIJ specifically for providing a fellowship to an economic journalist. This pioneering step is poised to create new opportunities for in-depth reporting and analysis within the vital sector of economic news.
A Legacy of Vision and Service
The fellowship is a heartfelt tribute to the late Shrawan Kumar Agrawal, founder of RMC Group and father of Rajesh Kumar Agrawal. Shrawan Kumar Agrawal, who passed away last August, was a figure of considerable influence, having also served as a former president of the Marwadi Sewa Samiti and a member of the Constituent Assembly. His son, Rajesh Kumar Agrawal, first announced his intention to establish this endowment fund in his father’s memory during NAFIJ’s 15th annual general meeting on December 15. The recent signing formalizes this vision, cementing a lasting legacy that will benefit future generations of Nepalese economic journalists.
Empowering Investigative Reporting and Mentorship
Under the terms of the agreement, the endowment fund will enable NAFIJ to annually award a fellowship of fifty thousand rupees to a deserving economic journalist. The fellowship’s primary focus is to encourage and support investigative economic news writing, a crucial area for transparent and informed public discourse.
Beyond financial assistance, NAFIJ is committed to providing comprehensive support, including making a mentor available to the fellowship recipient. This mentorship aspect will be invaluable, offering guidance and expertise to help journalists hone their skills and produce high-quality, impactful economic stories.
Implementation and Future Outlook
To ensure a fair and rigorous selection process, a three-member selection committee will be formed to oversee the ‘Shrawan Kumar Agrawal NAFIJ Fellowship’. This committee will be responsible for the further procedures involved in granting the fellowship.
NAFIJ President Menuka Karki confirmed that all necessary processes will be completed, with the fellowship set to be implemented from the upcoming fiscal year 2082/83 (2025/26).
Rajesh Kumar Agrawal, President of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries, emphasized the broader impact of this initiative, stating that “this step will further encourage economic journalists.”
His words highlight the collective aspiration that this fellowship will not only honor a respected legacy but also significantly uplift the standards and reach of economic journalism across Nepal.
For more: Shrawan Kumar Agrawal NAFIJ Fellowship