Lawmakers Fellowship
The Lawmakers Fellowship by the JK Centre for Peace and Justice Foundation (JKCPJ) is a policy
and legislative research initiative designed to bridge the gap between young researchers and democratic institutions in Jammu & Kashmir. The programme provides emerging scholars, graduates, and young professionals an opportunity to work closely with elected representatives, gaining first-hand exposure to governance, law-making, and public policy processes.
Through the fellowship, selected fellows are placed with Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs)
to assist in legislative research, policy analysis, drafting support, and constituency-related policy
work. Fellows contribute by preparing research briefs, policy notes, Assembly questions, discussion
points, and background documents that help legislators engage more effectively in legislative debates
and policy discussions.
In its first year, the Lawmakers Fellowship successfully engaged 3 MLAs from across Jammu &
Kashmir and placed a dedicated group of 12 young policy fellows to support them in their legislative
work. This cohort of fellows worked closely with legislators during the programme period, assisting with
policy research, issue mapping, and documentation of constituency concerns, thereby contributing to more informed legislative engagement.
Many grassroots issues from different constituencies were raised in the Assembly through the support
provided by the fellows. As part of this effort, the fellowship contributed to the preparation and
submission of 4 Private Member’s Bills, 3 Resolutions, over 100 Cut-Motions, and more than 150
Assembly Questions, ensuring that community concerns and youth-driven insights became part of the
formal policy and legislative discourse.
The fellowship is built on the idea that effective law-making requires access to credible research and
structured policy support. By connecting lawmakers with motivated young researchers, the programme
strengthens the research capacity available to elected representatives while also creating a practical
learning platform for youth interested in governance and public policy.
Beyond legislative support, fellows also gain valuable exposure to public administration, stakeholder
engagement, and grassroots governance challenges. The programme therefore serves both as a
capacity-building initiative for young professionals and as a knowledge support system for
lawmakers.
Overall, the Lawmakers Fellowship seeks to nurture a new generation of policy thinkers, governance
practitioners, and civic leaders, while contributing to stronger, more informed, and research-driven
legislative processes in Jammu & Kashmir.
Mission:
The Lawmakers Fellowship by the JK Centre for Peace and Justice Foundation (JKCPJ) aims to
strengthen democratic governance in Jammu & Kashmir by providing structured research, policy, and
legal support to elected representatives. The fellowship is designed to assist legislators in addressing
complex policy challenges through evidence-based research, legislative drafting, and legal guidance,
thereby enabling more informed decision-making within democratic institutions.
A key component of the mission is to create a support system for lawmakers who often face
limitations in research and legal resources while performing their legislative and constituency
responsibilities. Through the fellowship, trained fellows work closely with legislators to provide policy
analysis, legal aid, and documentation support, helping translate public concerns into well-structured
legislative interventions such as Assembly questions, motions, and policy proposals.
At the same time, the programme serves as a capacity-building platform for young researchers, law
graduates, and policy enthusiasts, giving them direct exposure to the functioning of legislative
institutions. By doing so, the fellowship seeks to develop a generation of professionals who understand
governance not only in theory but also in practice.
Importantly, the Lawmakers Fellowship represents one of the first structured initiatives in Jammu &
Kashmir dedicated to providing organized research and legal assistance to legislators. By
institutionalizing this support, the programme aims to strengthen the quality of policy debates, improve
legislative participation, and encourage evidence-driven governance.
Vision:
The vision of the Lawmakers Fellowship is to create a strong and sustainable ecosystem of legislative
research and legal support for elected representatives in Jammu & Kashmir.
Over the next three years, the programme aims to expand its reach to support more than 35 Members
of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) across different constituencies, ensuring that lawmakers have
access to research-based insights and legal assistance for policy development and legislative work. In
addition, the fellowship also envisions extending its engagement to Members of Parliament (MPs)
representing the region, with a target of supporting up to 11 MPs through research inputs and policy
analysis.
Through this expansion, the programme seeks to build a long-term institutional model where
lawmakers are supported by trained policy fellows, enabling more informed law-making, improved
constituency representation, and stronger democratic accountability.
Ultimately, the vision of the fellowship is to contribute towards a governance ecosystem in which
research, law, and public policy work together to address the evolving needs of society, while
empowering both lawmakers and young professionals to play a meaningful role in shaping the future of
Jammu & Kashmir.
