SHILLONG: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma today informed the House that the state government has currently engaged 36 individual consultants and 59 consultancy firms.
Sangma was replying to a query raised by Mawryngkneng MLA Heavingstone Kharpran during the question hour of the ongoing Budget Session of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly regarding the appointment of consultants across various government departments.
Providing a detailed breakdown, the Chief Minister stated that 10 departments are engaging individual consultants and 18 departments are utilizing consultancy firms.
Addressing concerns over expenditure, the Chief Minister clarified that the total monthly remuneration for individual consultants amounts to ₹4.35 crore during the 2024–25 financial year.
He further explained that consultancy firms do not receive fixed monthly salaries like government employees. Instead, they are paid consultancy fees based on contractual deliverables and project complexity.
He noted that nearly 87% of this expenditure is funded through Externally Aided Projects (EAPs) and does not come from the state’s own tax revenue.
The Chief Minister dismissed allegations that consultants are being used as replacements for regular government staff. He emphasized that many Central Government schemes and international funding agencies mandate the engagement of technical experts for effective project implementation.
While commending state officials for their administrative capabilities, he underlined the importance of specialized expertise in areas such as Healthcare and Environment, Social Impact Assessment and Technical Project Design.
He added that this “brain trust” has played a key role in helping Meghalaya secure major initiatives, including the Smart City Project, Unity Mall, and multiple EAPs worth nearly ₹12,000 crore.
On the mode of appointment, the House was informed that a formal and transparent procedure is followed where many firms are selected through competitive bidding using the QCBS (Quality and Cost-Based Selection) system. Individual consultants are appointed through interviews and technical evaluations. Following this, all appointments are project-based and automatically conclude upon project completion.
The Chief Minister reiterated that the engagement of consultants is aimed at strengthening governance, improving project outcomes, and ensuring efficient utilization of development funds.
