SHILLONG, Sep 1: Drawing attention to a growing concern about the need to harness local talent for the state’s development initiatives, ensuring that those who understand the region’s unique challenges are at the forefront of planning and execution, Cabinet Minister Alexander Laloo Hek has expressed disappointment over the state government’s reliance on external consultants for designing and implementing infrastructure projects in Meghalaya, despite the availability of local expertise.
Speaking to reporters, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Minister Hek remarked, “It is really sad that the state is ignoring local expertise for preparing the design and plans for infrastructural development projects. I would also take the blame since I am part of the government as a Minister. My question is, why should we depend on consultants from outside when we have our own people who can do a better job?”
Hek stressed on the need to address this issue with Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and Deputy Chief Ministers Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar, who oversee departments related to infrastructure development. He believes that local experts are better equipped to develop solutions to Shillong’s perennial traffic problems, given their firsthand knowledge of the city’s challenges.
“Why should we trust consultants from outside who have no knowledge about the ground situation? Our own people know how the citizens have been affected by the traffic problem. They are also aware of the narrow roads of Shillong city,” Hek asserted.
The minister called for a policy review to engage more local youth experts in the planning and design of infrastructure projects, not only in Shillong but across the entire state of Meghalaya. He also urged the Meghalaya Engineering Service Association (MESA) to pass a resolution advocating for local engineers to be given opportunities to prepare designs and Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for government projects.
HYC questions govt’s financial priorities
Training guns on the state government, the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) has questioned the MDA government’s financial priorities, casting aspersions on its decision to appoint numerous advisers and consultants while claiming financial constraints in other areas.
Speaking at the unveiling of a life-size statue of founding KSU president, Bull N Lyngdoh, at Motphran on Saturday, HYC president Roy Kupar Synrem criticised the government’s spending.
He questioned how the administration, which often cites financial difficulties as a reason for not raising teachers’ salaries or releasing student scholarships, can afford to appoint so many advisers and consultants. “The government has appointed 11 advisers and 100 consultants in the Secretariat and various departments. I would like to question where the government has found the money to appoint these advisers and consultants,” Synrem remarked.
Synrem also questioned the necessity of these positions, asking why ministers need advisers and why consultants are present in nearly every department. “There is no point in having IAS and MCS officers when their jobs are being done by advisers and consultants,” he stated.
The HYC president also took a direct jab at Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, questioning the value of his MBA degree in Finance from London and the United States, if he needs to appoint a politician, who was defeated in the last Assembly election, as his adviser. “It is for this reason that the people are suffering, as political appointees occupy important positions,” Synrem added.
The event also marked the significance of installing the statue of the late Bull N Lyngdoh at Motphran, a location he frequently used to address public gatherings. Synrem acknowledged the contributions and selfless sacrifices of Lyngdoh for the betterment of the Hynniewtrep community.
The ceremony was attended by several notable figures, including Rangbah Shnong of Malki, PK Sohtun and Evanjalin Lyngdoh, the sister of the late KSU leader.
