The opposition today raised concerns over the government’s preference for hiring consultants from outside the state while many qualified unemployed youths remain without opportunities.
Voice of the People Party (VPP) MLA Brightstarwell Marbaniang questioned whether the state’s engineers, MA graduates, and agricultural or horticultural degree holders were not competent enough for these roles.
He suggested that if there is a skill gap, the government should invest in short-term training programmes, similar to corporate probation training, to equip local youths with the necessary expertise.
Responding to the concerns, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma revealed that the state has engaged 39 individual consultants and 69 consultancy firms. He pleaded an inability to answer how much monetary compensation is paid to them due to differences in payment periods, project scope and timelines. The funding for these consultants primarily comes from project-specific budgets, which often include travel and other expenses. In some cases, the state government bears additional costs for official work beyond the project’s scope.
Sangma defended the government’s decision to hire external consultants, stating that many projects involve complex technical specifications beyond the expertise of government officials. The agreements for certain big projects with external partners also mandate that consultants be taken onboard.
He cited examples like the challenge-based destination development under Swadesh Darshan, where quality proposals helped Meghalaya secure Rs 200 crore – the highest among states. Over the past seven years, Meghalaya has secured Rs 7,427 crore through international funding agencies like the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, etc due to the professionalism and technical expertise brought in by consultants, the CM said.
He acknowledged the need to train local youths in project preparation and delivery but emphasised that delays in project submissions could lead to lost funding opportunities. He cited an example where Meghalaya had just 48 hours to submit a Rs 2,400 crore detailed project report (DPR) for the World Bank-funded MEGA project, which was successfully completed due to the expertise of consultants.
Marbaniang pressed the government on the number of local versus non-local consultants. Sangma admitted that initially, only 2-3 percent of consultancy roles were held by locals, but through training and capacity-building, this number has risen to nearly 30 percent. He assured that the government aims to further increase local participation without compromising project quality. He argued that large-scale projects like the Rs 200 crore tourism initiative would ultimately generate employment for locals.
Sangma also assured that all consultancy appointments go through a proper tendering process.
VPP leader Ardent Basaiawmoit questioned whether local youths were being employed to support government-appointed consultants. Sangma affirmed that the government’s goal is to maximise local employment while maintaining the quality needed to secure high-value projects. He acknowledged that while local youths do much of the groundwork, consultants provide crucial expertise and networking to ensure project approval. He emphasised that while many locals are involved, there remains a distinction between qualification and capacity, which the government is addressing through training and skill development programmes.
Basaiawmoit reiterated concerns about wage disparities, arguing that local youths are paid significantly less than external consultants despite handling much of the work. He urged the government to prioritize local talent and reduce reliance on external consultancy.
Sangma countered that the payment structure is transparent and based on work done. He stressed that the government is committed to increasing local participation but must also consider the larger objective of securing timely investments for Meghalaya. He cited the Unity Mall project, where Meghalaya was the first state to submit a proposal for Rs 132 crore, stressing that such initiatives create long-term economic opportunities for locals.
The opposition politician also attacked the government over political appointments, noting that two advisers to the state government are in Dubai where they are enjoying the Champions Trophy cricket tournament. He was most likely referring to Himalaya Shangpliang and Hamletson Dohling, both former MLAs of Sangma’s National People’s Party, who were captured on screen during one of India’s matches; the screenshot has since gone viral.
