The LAMP Fellowship: A unique opportunity for India’s youth

There are few opportunities for fresh graduates to contribute to policymaking in India today. When I was accepted to the Legislative Assistant to Members of Parliament (LAMP) Fellowship in 2012, I did not think twice before joining the programme..The first month of LAMP was an intensive training course in parliamentary procedures, governance structures, and some of the challenges facing India’s public sector. These lessons are valuable when working in a Member of Parliament’s (MPs) office, where you are often expected to have prior knowledge of how the system works. Regular interactions with your cohort of politically charged, young minds lends itself to dynamic discussions ranging from making party manifestoes legally binding, to the government’s bail out of Air India. These rich conversations make for interesting lessons outside the classroom..There is no typical profile of a LAMP Fellow. My colleagues’ academic backgrounds ranged from genetics to fashion management, from business to law. The LAMP Fellows came from 12 different States across the country. Similarly, given the diversity of our country, there is no typical profile of an MP. LAMP Fellows worked with MPs who differed vastly in their professional and educational backgrounds, political interests, and work style. While some Fellows had fixed office timings and a process of reporting to their MPs, others, like me, worked in a less structured environment. But there is one challenge that was common to all LAMP fellows: figuring out how to add value to our MPs legislative work in the short span of ten months..The MP I was placed with played an important role in one of India’s smaller regional parties. His party responsibilities thus consumed a significant proportion of his time. People are often under the impression that our politicians ‘don’t do any work.’ I am glad I could rid myself of this misconception after spending a year in a political office. Day in and day out, I watched my MP cater to the needs of hundreds of party workers and constituents. In addition to his parliamentary work, he was also a part of various conferences, delegations, and panel discussions..As a LAMP Fellow, I drafted parliamentary interventions, and provided research inputs for various events my MP attended, and articles he wrote. The nature of work was erratic and unpredictable. I had as long as two months to draft a Private Members’ Bill and as little as two days to put together a critical review on the Union Budget. The topics I researched ranged from the Minimum Support Price of wheat to deregulations in the sugar sector, and from the promotion of renewable energy projects to the state of malnutrition in the country. This expanded the breadth and depth of my knowledge on a variety of policy issues. Working with a parliamentarian who valued objective and nuanced research was refreshing, given that Indian political discourse is habitually dominated by rhetoric and populism..The Fellowship enabled me to develop my understanding of issues that were of personal interest. For example, I helped organise a public consultation in my MPs constituency for a Private Members’ Bill that addresses pollution in the Yamuna River. The event brought together over two hundred constituents, local government officials and representatives of non-profit organisations who collectively discussed river pollution. Being an integral part of this initiative enabled me to witness the complex process of negotiating with stakeholders to work out feasible policy solutions. Moreover, I saw the value of increased stakeholder engagement in the legislative process. There are very few existing forums that can promote constructive dialogue around policy issues. Realising this has influenced my desire to continue working on initiatives that enhance the public policy discourse in India..The LAMP programme enabled me to observe and experience the inner workings of India’s political system. It was rewarding to see my work highlighted in conferences, Parliament, and the media. It was just as frustrating to see Parliament adjourned on the day that my MP’s Starred Question was to be answered on the floor of the house..The exposure to working in a parliamentarian’s office and being associated with the Fellowship’s network is unique. It is my desire to see Parliament institutionalize this programme so that more youth have the opportunity to contribute to policymaking in India..Saanya Gulati is a former a LAMP Fellow, (2012-2013), and holds a B.A. in International Relations and Sociology from Tufts University. She currently manages research and outreach at ‘I for India.’