Profile

During my graduation, being part of various hands-on projects allowed me to get a peek over public policies, which increased my interest towards policy making. The Fellowship offers a rare and unique opportunity to actively engage in policy space, along with a chance to contribute towards the legislative process. It is an opportunity to understand the working of parliament and understanding how valuable even a small intervention can be towards the larger objective of policymaking. Working with Parliamentarians also gives an insight towards constituency based issues and tackling them. In-depth research on different topics like Healthcare and Sanitation, Population, Environment, etc helped me broaden my understanding of an issue from multiple perspectives. The Fellowship allowed me to have a holistic understanding about Parliament of India, working of parliamentarians and the ability to carry extensive research of various issues. 

Coming from a public policy background, I always had a spirit of enquiry for the processes of the Indian Parliament. Working as a consultant in the Government & Public Sector, my spirit of enquiry transcended into a want for real-time knowledge and hands on experience in policy making. LAMP Fellowship was hence highly congruous to my search for knowledge. Being exceptional and unique in its own format, the Fellowship offers a word for word involvement in the world of policy making. It is indeed a very distinctive experience to work as a LAMP fellow. From analysis of women issues in the nation to the study of elements of energy sector, the spectrum of daily affairs is wide ranging yet encyclopedic. Having gotten an insight about the work that goes into running the nation by working for a Member of Parliament, my views about politics and politicians changed to be a cut above. The Fellowship offers ample opportunities to observe day to day parliamentary proceedings. One gets to network with other professional LAMP fellows and gets to gain an understanding of various debatable issues from various perspectives. The organizers take immense pain in preparing the fellows for the challenges that come with the experience. Overall, the Fellowship is one of the best.

I was at a crucial juncture in my life of choosing whether to pursue a corporate job in England during my final year or returning back to India to translate a pastime passion into a legitimate career. Originally dissatisfied with the inferior level of discussion around political issues in the country, I was intrigued by the LAMP Fellowship since it gave you a chance to work with a law-maker in the proverbial “Supreme Panchayat” of the country. It would let the results of your work be practical instead of being limited to theory. Contemplating the solution to problems in the real-world rather than in classrooms is why the Fellowship gives you an unparalleled experience in the niche world of public policy. Due to the broad nature of research topics, from road construction in border areas to analysing the functioning of SAI, your immersion into the country’s specific problems provides a strong foundation in policy, something which I intend to pursue. Not only was the work environment completely divergent from a rigid company setup, it also ensured my creative ability was utilized in terms of – framing questions, drafting bills or even proposing solutions in a DISHA committee meeting. The Fellowship operates over an overarching political context giving you a taste of how policies are drafted, accepted by the Government and actually implemented which bridges the divide between policy-politics. Looking at the system also made me recognize that Parliament deliberates much more than people are aware of and solutions to political hot topics are not black or white. I couldn’t be happier I took the plunge to come back.

LAMP Fellowship, by virtue of working with a Member of Parliament, presents you with resources and people that would otherwise be inaccessible. The more you learn and extract from this opportunity, the more opportunities it creates for you. An MP's office is bustling with discussions with experts on formulating legislations, digging out questions to ask the Government and finding solutions for people's everyday problems. A normal inter-session day sees one juggling all of this. You're drafting a bill, typing a question and writing a letter all at the same time. Meanwhile, you may just get a call to answer questions or attend a sessions on an issue you are working on, but that doesn't mean you can pause the work you were already doing. Each of it is interesting and exhilarating, and exhausting all at once. And then, when you look at your MP, energetic and looking for more work at the end of the day, you realise what you should be aiming to be. My journey as a LAMP Fellow has not just brought me in close proximity to the people I wish to model myself after, but has pushed me to show that I have the potential to be so. Working in an MP's office is a journey of ups and downs. While some of your work makes some difference, the rest may just end up in a pile. Looking past whether my efforts got their returns and instead at the bigger picture, the bigger problems of this country has been my biggest take away from this. If you're wondering whether this is for you, then ask yourself, are you a curious mind looking for an abode?

Being a strong proponent of common legal literacy and inclusiveness, and having run an NGO in college days to promote basic legal education and legal access, LAMP Fellowship was the natural next step for me. The study of public policy is yet to get its due in our education system. Hence this Fellowship proved to be the perfect opportunity for a beginner like me to understand and appreciate the nuances of law making as well as its impact on the common voter. Working closely with a Member of Parliament helps the young minds bring forth their ideas and advocate the need for effective policies pertaining to the issues relevant to our times. I hope to work further in this field and an experience of such scale at a young age would definitely help me advance my career prospects in policy development.

I joined the LAMP Fellowship, in the hope of being mentored by a Member of Parliament, to get direct exposure into the legislative drafting process and to get some insight into how decisions that shape Indian policies are taken by elected representatives. Over the past few months, however, the Fellowship has surpassed my expectations. The LAMP Fellowship has encouraged academic and professional growth – integrating my foundations in law and social work with first-hand public-policy analysis, it has given me a unique opportunity to gain rigorous training in the functioning of the legislature, formulating critical policy-briefs and drafting speeches for parliamentary debates. The Fellowship has helped me hone my research skills and gain further clarity on areas of interest that I would like to build a career in, by offering interdisciplinary exposure into a diverse array of policy issues. I consider it an honour to have been placed under a mentor who is so willing to lend an ear to all of my ideas, and incorporate them into parliamentary interventions, whenever possible. Getting to draft Private Member Bills on issues that have been close to my heart has been the most fulfilling part of the Fellowship for me.

I applied for LAMP Fellowship because I wanted to learn more about legislative processes and how an MP fulfills his representative role in Parliament. I wanted to work closely with Parliamentarians so as to understand the policy making space closely. I come from a village background so I wanted to understand how different constituency related problems can be raised in Parliament and solved.  LAMP Fellowship has been a sheer enriching experience and I learned so many things out of LAMP Fellowship. On the very first day, I got access to members' portal, I started filing zero hour notices on my own. I researched a lot on constituency issues and filed zero hour notices, framed questions and put up notices for short duration discussions. Every day I would brief my MP about different bills to be considered in parliament and in the process, I myself gained a lot of insights through the extensive research I would do on a topic before briefing my MP. If it was not for LAMP Fellowship, I would never have gotten such an exposure and perspective about different policies, issues and challenges faced in India. As an engineering graduate, I worked on topics that were out of my comfort zone and completed them within tight deadlines. Besides, as LAMP fellow, you get to attend lot of workshops, book launches, panel discussions etc where you meet learned people in their respective fields and build your network. All of this has made me a more informed person than ever and helped me have a deeper understanding of how policy making works in our country.

I decided to go for this Fellowship with the exciting prospect of being exposed to the multi-disciplinary domain of public policy. It is a kind of exposure that can be especially refreshing after college years spent in developing knowledge mostly in one particular discipline. The best thing about being a part of LAMP is, it teaches one to become a person of initiative. There are certain sectors such as education, health etc. which I have always wanted to delve into for better understanding, but prior to joining this fellowship, had little time or opportunity to do so. With the workshops and training that are provided, I get to be a part of interesting discussions that throw a lot of new perspectives on a wide range of topics, leaving with the desire to know more. During the course of the fellowship as I have prepared speeches on bills, committee briefs, notices on matters of urgent importance and research on schemes, I have been drawn closer to the intricacies of issues that affect certain people I wouldn’t normally know about. This Fellowship has also a lot to teach in terms of being able to find a space on one’s own in a network of people who are trying to contribute to an MP’s work.  

In such a large and complex political system like India, it is not easy to reach at the apex level and be able to play a role in it. But LAMP Fellowship makes that possible. It places you right at the focal point of democracy-that is Parliament. To be with a Member of Parliament is a priceless opportunity. It provided me a rich blend of knowledge and experiences. The scale, depth and accuracy involved in Parliamentary interventions made me research, understand and think about issues in an unprecedented manner. Besides that, I got to witness and understand the political system from the closest level. Being with a MP makes it possible for me to meet important and influential people in the Government, Bureaucracy, Media, Civil Society and Corporates. The unique thing about this Fellowship is that it kept me at the heart of political process and still allowed me to be apolitical. I cannot thank PRS enough for the platform that it has provided me at such a young age. Through this Fellowship, we get to take with us all the esteem and credibility that PRS has established for itself.

Given my background in Public Policy, and a keen interest in the politics of policy making, inspired me to apply for LAMP Fellowship. This experience has not only helped me understand the broad perspective of our political representatives, but has also given me an opportunity to shape a narrative on a particular issue. While working on bills like Prevention of Corruption Act or the Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, Homeopathy Central Council Amendment Bill, to name a few, I have been able to reflect the concerns of common people in tandem with the views of the Honorable Member of Parliament. From full-fledged research to managing office duties, attending events, holding consultation meets, and engaging with stakeholders, the experience has honed my ability to understand the pith and substance of the issues and has enabled me to actively contribute. This fellowship is a bridge between reality and theory.

I got inclined towards development issues during my coursework and wanted to explore the world of policy-related research. The LAMP Fellowship is a unique experience as it gives you an opportunity to understand the policy space holistically. Not only did I get an insight into the nuances of the legislative process itself, I also got to understand how different stakeholders interact with each other within the system at large. The Fellowship also helped me evolve professionally as I learned how to take initiative and self-regulate. Beyond this, just by working on a diverse range of issues, I gained a lot of perspective on various socio-economic challenges.

My interest in policy-making process and my curiosity about the functioning of India's highest legislative body led me to this prestigious Fellowship. Coming from an engineering background, I was sensitised about the importance of effective policy-making in order for the latest research and best-practices to reach the grassroot level. The Fellowship gave me an opportunity to work on areas as diverse as human trafficking, organic farming, data privacy, climate change, and bankruptcy laws, among others. Understanding the micro and macro-level issues of my MP's constituency, state and contextualising them with respect to the larger region and country as a whole provided the much-needed insight into how policies cannot be designed in isolation of ground-level realities. My experience has helped me shape my research interests by helping me explore multiple roles and responsibilities.

I was inspired to apply for the LAMP Fellowship to gain a deeper understanding into how the Parliament functions and what goes into making legislations. As a post graduate student of Regulatory Governance at TISS Mumbai, the opportunity to gain such an understanding was promising. The Fellowship provides ample opportunity to take initiative, work in a result oriented manner, and contribute nuanced research inputs on a range of issues. The legislative research provided is used by the MP to trigger a discussion in the Parliament on matters of public importance. The satisfaction of contributing to such an experience is incomparable. The emphasis of the Fellowship on providing non-partisan research inputs excited me. Such research inputs are a welcome step to make the quality of the parliamentary interventions and debates richer. Being mentored by the MP and learning from his rich experience has been invaluable. Moreover, the workshops, interaction with experts and support provided by PRS through the course of the Fellowship have helped me gain perspective.

LAMP resonated with my interest in Political Science as it would bring to light the working of legislature and executive of our country. It appealed to me as it addresses the void between ground realities and policy-making. It addresses the lack of youth participation in policy-making and public affairs. The Fellowship is an opportunity that equips the Fellow with a tool to mould a Bill or policy into its best form possible. The guidance one would get under a Member of Parliament, rich in experience and information, would direct my approach to pragmatism. LAMP’s approach would make me grow as an individual. I applied for LAMP in order to realize my passion to contribute to the social sector, thereby leading to a desired career path in the developement space. Whatever I had expected of LAMP, it has given me. I've become more sincere and aware. LAMP has given me an experience that will always guide me in my future endeavours. 

Through my engagement with various organizations working towards the upliftment of socially and economically less privileged section of our society, I developed a keen interest in policy formulation over the years and thus when I was introduced to the idea of working with policy makers, it seemed like the most suitable opportunity.
As a LAMP, I got a chance to get an in-depth knowledge of varied issues faced by our nation ranging from menstrual hygiene to financial instability in the economy. The Fellowship gave me a platform to interact with eminent personalities and broaden my understanding of how the country’s legislature works. I am a more informed and aware citizen now who understands the nuances associated with policy formation and the importance of debate and discussion in a democracy. The Fellowship presents the perfect concoction of ideas of passionate youth and the wisdom of parliamentary leaders. My mentor MP always showed utmost interest in proposals presented to him which gave me a chance to leave considerable impact through parliamentary interventions. LAMP Fellowship is a perfect treat for anybody looking for an opportunity to make a difference
in the society at a young age!

A week into my Fellowship, the Member of Parliament assigned to me said - 'Paritosh, why are you holding that light bulb over me? You can let go of that now'. Little did I know that LAMP was indeed an acronym. This inspirational message went a long way in enriching my experience as an assistant to a MP. The drastic change I noticed thereafter in the amount of work I could carry out, given that I had one more hand available, has been a rather pleasing experience. The enhanced mobility, and the reputation of the Office gave me the opportunity to interact with a variety of experts in the domain I was most interested in.  While there were certain instances of lows, there were quite a lot more instances  when  I was high. I was given a free reign to work in any sector that I pleased and that is when I understood, this Fellowship is what you make of it. Either you can remain standing besides your assigned MP, or satisfy your ego by attempting, or at least claim to do so while being in a comfortable Lutyens bungalows,  to bring about meaningful change to the country. That is what this Fellowship is all about - it's not about holding a bulb.

My background in Political Science encouraged me to develop an interest in Indian Politics. Courses such as Indian Political Process intrigued me to know and learn more about the workings of the institution of Parliament. I was keen on understanding how politics plays a role in public policy formulation and implementation from a practical perspective. When I came across LAMP, it seemed an ideal avenue for me to understand both public policy and politics and its interlinkages.

As a postgraduate in International Political Economy, looking forward for career options in bureaucracy and public policy in India, I could not come across any better bridge, than the LAMP fellowship. As fortunate as it turned out to be, I was allocated to an MP from a regional party, that too from a new State, is an added advantage.This has enlightened my experience of the Fellowship with a completely new perspective. The legislative assistance that I provide and the research projects that I work on is shaped by various sets of determinants that uncover my biases, my strengths and weaknesses as a fresher in the sphere of public policy. Through this Fellowship, I am at the focal point of politics in India, and yet working at a very apolitical side of it. In my potential of a LAMP Fellow, I am able to dive in the social-economic areas of my interest as well the areas that I have not read or thought enough about. These months have been extremely enriching in terms of developing an insight, brushing up research methods, and understanding parliamentary affairs in India. 

The fantastic experience of my seniors in this Fellowship encouraged me to apply for the same. The chance to interact with the policy makers of a our country at such a young age is an opportunity very few get. I can validate my seniors' experience today. The Fellowship has been a rich learning curve for me and has set the perfect base for my future endeavours in public policy. 

Being a Political science student, I was always fascinated by the rich theory, the complex logic, the working of government systems, and the sheer brilliance of the arguments that surround my subject. My two year stint as a teacher in a low-income school in Hyderabad as a part of the Teach for India Fellowship exposed me to the harsh realities of our education system. I realized how appropriate government policies can help the disadvantaged and bring educational equity in our country. That is when I came across the LAMP Fellowship, which provided me a unique platform to explore the policy making process under the guidance of a policy maker. The LAMP fellowship helped me
understand the practical aspects, various thought processes, and deliberations that go into the formulation of policies. The diversity of the subjects and issues that I deal with in my MP’s office on a day-to-day basis actually helped me to develop a broader understanding and a multi-dimensional perspective. Apart from being an immense learning experience, the best part of the fellowship is the fact that as LAMP fellows, our contribution to even a small change, an amendment or a clarification to any single bill
actually ends up Impacting millions of people.

Being a law student, I was always keen to unravel the relationship between law and policy. LAMP Fellowship seemed like the apt opportunity to get a realistic insight into the world of policy making. Moreover the chance to work with a Member of Parliament and to engage with policy makers and experts from diverse sectors sealed the deal for me. The Fellowship allows you to not just observe and understand the process, but also actively engage in it. Working with my MP has provided me with an in-depth knowledge about Parliament and its proceedings along with the challenges involved in tackling developmental problems. The diverse nature of subjects that I deal with on a daily basis has increased my horizons as a researcher. The Fellowship enables me to further appreciate the law and policy-making processes and to do my bit by maximizing the efficiency of parliamentary interventions.

As an individual who wants to bring about change at a macro level someday, the LAMP Fellowship has been a perfect start to my career. During the course of the Fellowship, one has the opportunity to observe the policy making space at close quarters, while working hand in hand with a Member of the Parliament. As a fresh graduate, this provides one with an in-depth understanding of Parliamentary systems and highlights the importance of the role of research in Government establishments. Every day as fellow is different from the other and entails a learning experience unlike any other. The experience has equipped with the insight to address a myriad of issues and formulate viable policy solutions for the same. It would be hard to pinpoint specific takeaways from the programme, but one of the moments that stood out for me was when my MP raised an issue drafted by me before the Parliament. It was then that for the first time, I felt like I was not a mere spectator to the system but a part of it. The experience has been truly humbling and has changed my perspective of our elected representatives. Lastly, the LAMP fellowship has changed the way I look at the world around me, it has made me a more informed citizen with new zeal to contribute to the building of our nation.

I wish to attain and exhibit abilities to explore the relationship between policy and society and evolve as a thoughtful human being, who could inculcate and disseminate the ideas of rights and justice apart from developing a critical perspective towards social issues. This was the main driver for me to choose the prestigious LAMP Fellowship. In the pursuit of my passion for making a career in development sector and public policy, I consciously attempted to move towards challenging and exhaustive experiences in the functioning of the legislature of our country because it is the legislative branch which frame policies and regulations that touches life of 125 crores Indians. As a professional social worker I have had an opportunity to work at grassroot level and understand the issues from micro level, LAMP Fellowship gave me an opportunity to understand issues from the perspective of policy maker’s top-down approach at macro level. Engaging directly with an MP and understanding the functioning of the system from inside has also cleared all my doubts about apathy and cynicism people associate with our political system. I look at this Fellowship as a great opportunity to contribute my bit to our social, political and economic democracy.

The influence of policy and politics in our lives is huge. I chose legal-studies to understand the dynamics of State’s relationship with its citizens, and LAMP happened to be the next big step in understanding our Parliamentary democracy. The Fellowship gives a platform to work at the very micro level with the highest decision-making body of the country. Working closely with a distinguished Member of Parliament exposes one to the responsibilities of a leading representative towards the diversified socio-cultural milieu and the process called India. LAMP enabled me to bridge the gap between what I had read and heard about Indian politics, and how it really is. The Fellowship is about a very pragmatic aspect of our system, it involves writing, research and debate. I plan on making the most of it by being better aware each day, taking maximum initiatives, and striking the right balance between social growth and national interest.

The policy domain, especially Indian policy has always fascinated me. Little did I know that via LAMP, I would enter this fascinating world rather soon! As a law aspirant, I wanted to understand the dynamics of legislative processes and the LAMP fellowship gave me an opportunity to do just that and so much more.  The chance to work directly with a Member of Parliament was not only challenging but extremely rewarding. The fact that every research you do, every brief you prepare and every question that you frame has an impact on so many lives is what makes the fellowship stand out. This journey has been a paradoxical one for me. Every day is about unlearning as much as it is about learning. Moreover, being one of the youngest fellows in the diverse cohort has given me the opportunity to learn so much from my fellow lamps. I intend to carry forward the experiences, knowledge and new perspectives that this fellowship has given me in all my future endeavors. 

The Fellowship provided me with an opportunity to put into practice the knowledge and skills I learned during my post-graduation. Also, assisting a people’s representative in the world’s largest democracy was an opportunity that I did not want to miss. It was thus a no-brainer for me to grab this opportunity, and I am glad that I did take the plunge. The Fellowship offers unparalleled insights and exposure in the realm of policy and polity, which has been of immense value-addition to my career and personality. From doing research on a number of issues and coming up with parliamentary interventions to focussing on specific issues for standing committee meetings and workshops, the Fellowship provides you in-depth learning from a holistic perspective. Initiatives such as this are much-needed and form a vital part of the democratic process as it interlinks citizen engagement and awareness with the legislative process. Working in such a setting has been an enriching experience and is highly recommended for those planning to work in the policy space.