Meghalaya has engaged 36 individual consultants and 59 consultancy firms to support its development programmes, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma told the Assembly on Tuesday, adding that payments are strictly linked to deliverables. “The total annual expenditure on monthly remuneration for individual consultants is Rs 4.35 crore for 2024-25,” Sangma said. He clarified that consultancy firms are not paid salaries but receive fees tied to contracted deliverables. “If they fail to deliver, they will not get paid.”
Replying to a supplementary query from opposition VPP legislator from Mawryngkneng Heaving Stone Kharpran, the chief minister noted that 19 of the 36 individual consultants — about 52 percent — are local professionals with qualifications in management, agriculture and environmental sciences. “As we move along, we ensure our people’s capacity is built up to take on responsibilities that required global expertise,” he said.
Sangma explained that most consultants are hired project-by-project for specialised tasks such as preparing detailed project reports, environmental and social safeguards, and procurement processes mandated by the World Bank and ADB.