Shillong, Feb 17: Meghalaya paid an average of Rs 1 lakh per month as remuneration for each of the 36 individual consultants hired by various government departments in 2024-25 for a total of Rs 4.35 crore, with a further 59 consultancy firms also drawing on the exchequer to the tune of Rs 131.73 crore.
This was informed by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma in the Assembly today.
The issue of consultants is a recurring one in the state, with the opposition usually criticising the government for spending too much on consultants instead of utilising the state’s civil servants, or for hiring consultants from outside Meghalaya rather than using local professionals.
Replying to questions raised by opposition MLA for Mawryngkneng Heavingstone Kharpran of the Voice of the People Party (VPP), Sangma said that consultancy firms are not paid salaries but are compensated based on deliverables as defined in their contracts.
In his response during Question Hour, the CM informed that 10 departments have engaged individual consultants while 13 have hired consultancy firms.
On the mode of appointment, he said consultants are engaged through a defined process, which includes tendering and bidding. “Different projects and agencies require different kinds of expertise. The process is carried out as per the mandate of the concerned funding agency or scheme guidelines,” he said.
Responding to Kharpran’s query on whether the engagement of consultants indicated a lack of competence among government officials, the Chief Minister said all officials are competent within their defined roles.
“Consultants are brought in for specialised expertise, especially where it is mandatory under externally aided projects (EAPs) and centrally-sponsored schemes,” he said.
Meghalaya is currently implementing EAPs worth over Rs 12,000 crore and many of these projects require the appointment of experts in areas such as environmental and social impact assessment, resettlement action plans, procurement, project management units (PMUs) and contract supervision.
Citing the example of the second phase of the World Bank-funded Meghalaya Integrated Transport Project (MITP), for which Rs 2,500 crore has been sanctioned, Sangma said such projects require environmental and social experts as part of funding conditions.
“These are not government jobs being taken away. These are mandated expert roles under project guidelines,” he added.
Addressing the criticism of plum consultancy work going to outsiders, the CM said that 19 of the 36 individual consultants (which is just over 50 per cent) are local professionals, including those with MBAs, retired officials and subject experts.
Meghalaya itself is not having to bear the full cost of the consultants, either, he added, with 87 per cent drawn from project funds (5-10 per cent of funds under EAP guidelines can be utilised for administrative expenses).
In response to a query by Mawlai MLA Brightstarwell Marbaniang, also of the VPP, the CM said a total of Rs 131.73 crore has been paid to the 59 consultancy firms. Out of this, Rs 116 crore has come from EAP funds, with the state government spending about Rs 10.75 crore from its own resources and a further Rs 5.67 crore drawn from central funds. He added that 85 per cent of the total consultancy fees paid to firms have been sourced from EAPs.
On performance evaluation, the Chief Minister said consultants are paid strictly based on contractual deliverables. “If they do not deliver as per timelines and quality standards, payments are not made,” he said.
Clarifying their role, he stated that consultants primarily assist in preparing Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), handling environmental and social compliance, procurement processes, PMU functions and contract supervision. “Their role is to support the system, not to take over the powers of government officials,” Sangma said.
Leader of the Opposition and Songsak MLA Dr Mukul Sangma of the Trinamool Congress sought details on proposals prepared by consultants for submission to line ministries under EAPs. The CM said the list was lengthy and would be placed on the table of the house.
VPP legislator Ardent M Basaiawmoit of Nongkrem asked whether Meghalaya had received the highest funding from the Union Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) in the country or regionally. Sangma replied that among the smaller North East states, Meghalaya has received the highest EAP funding and is comparable to larger states in terms of fund absorption.
Shillong West MLA Paul Lyngdoh of the United Democratic Party (a member of the ruling alliance) asked whether contracts include a mandatory disclosure clause to prevent conflict of interest. Sangma said such clauses are generally part of consultancy agreements but assured the house he would verify and provide detailed information.
