Housing Ministry Spends Rs 2.3 Cr Monthly on Consultants
Real Estate

Housing Ministry Spends Rs 2.3 Cr Monthly on Consultants

Consultants and private domain experts have become indispensable for many government departments, and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is no exception. The ministry spends around Rs 2.3 crore every month to compensate 112 consultants engaged in various high-priority initiatives. According to the ministry's submission to the Rajya Sabha, some consultants earn between Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. Among the most heavily staffed projects is the PM SVANidhi scheme, which offers subsidised loans to street vendors who were affected by the Covid-19 lockdown. Initially introduced to support these vendors, the scheme has now been expanded to include social security and welfare benefits for its beneficiaries.

In response to a query by TMC lawmaker Saket Gokhale, the housing ministry revealed that 18 consultants work on the Smart City Mission, while 16 are engaged with the PM Awas Yojna (Urban) project. A former secretary in the central government, speaking with TOI, noted that while consultants bring fresh ideas and aid in managing complex programs, there has been an over-reliance on large consultancy firms in recent years. He raised concerns that government officers now depend on these firms for even basic tasks, like preparing presentations for cabinet proposals, a trend that undermines institutional knowledge. This issue was discussed during a meeting of all secretaries chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where officials expressed worries about whether top bureaucrats, with their experience, should still rely on consultants for support.

Consultants and private domain experts have become indispensable for many government departments, and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is no exception. The ministry spends around Rs 2.3 crore every month to compensate 112 consultants engaged in various high-priority initiatives. According to the ministry's submission to the Rajya Sabha, some consultants earn between Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. Among the most heavily staffed projects is the PM SVANidhi scheme, which offers subsidised loans to street vendors who were affected by the Covid-19 lockdown. Initially introduced to support these vendors, the scheme has now been expanded to include social security and welfare benefits for its beneficiaries. In response to a query by TMC lawmaker Saket Gokhale, the housing ministry revealed that 18 consultants work on the Smart City Mission, while 16 are engaged with the PM Awas Yojna (Urban) project. A former secretary in the central government, speaking with TOI, noted that while consultants bring fresh ideas and aid in managing complex programs, there has been an over-reliance on large consultancy firms in recent years. He raised concerns that government officers now depend on these firms for even basic tasks, like preparing presentations for cabinet proposals, a trend that undermines institutional knowledge. This issue was discussed during a meeting of all secretaries chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where officials expressed worries about whether top bureaucrats, with their experience, should still rely on consultants for support.

Next Story
Infrastructure Energy

South West Pinnacle Wins Rs 30 Cr Oman Mining Contract

South West Pinnacle Exploration Ltd has secured a Rs 30 crore contract from Minerals Development Oman (MDO) for mining exploration in concession areas 12B and 13.The two-year project will be carried out via Alara Resources LLC, a JV in Oman. MDO, backed by Oman’s investment authorities, focuses on monetising mineral wealth.The contract covers copper, gold, and chromite and highlights South West Pinnacle’s growing footprint in international exploration and mining services. ..

Next Story
Equipment

Godrej GEG Boosts Intralogistics with AI and Green Tech

Godrej Enterprises Group (GEG) is revolutionising warehouse and factory logistics through its Material Handling Equipment and Storage Solutions arms by integrating AI, IoT, and automation.With 20–25% market share and 85% local sourcing, GEG champions Atmanirbhar Bharat and sustainability. The Chennai plant, a green manufacturing leader, uses RoHS-compliant materials and has slashed energy consumption by 60%.GEG serves e-commerce, FMCG, retail, and cold chains with high-performance racking and electric forklifts. Upcoming IoT-enabled forklifts and telematics solutions aim to improve speed, sa..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Amit Shah Inaugurates Key Projects Across Gujarat

Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for various projects in Gujarat’s Panchmahal district and Ahmedabad.In Godhra, he inaugurated the Center of Excellence building, sports complex, reservoir, and Miyawaki plantation. In Ahmedabad, he unveiled a new cooperative complex in Adaroda village and a primary school in Juwal.These projects, under the Model Co-op Village scheme, aim to boost education, sustainability, and rural development across the state. ..

Advertisement

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?