Delhi Assembly to set up centre, hire researchers to assist lawmakers

Delhi Assembly will set up a research centre and introduce fellowship programme for youths who will be assigned to work with legislators, a move aimed at keeping MLAs well-informed on legislative affairs.

According to an official statement, the Assembly Secretariat will set up 'Delhi Assembly Research Centre' (DARC), which will seek to engage 50 fellows and 90 associate fellows, initially for a period of one year and extendable by another year based on their performance.

The move comes after AAP MLA Somath Bharti raised the issue in the House one-and-a-half months back about legislators not having any facility to do research and field works pertaining to legislative affairs.

Following the concern flagged by Bharti, Speaker Ram Niwas Goel had ordered the General Purpose Committee (GPC) of the House to submit its report on the issue.

"A consolidated sum of Rs 1,00,000 per month to fellows and Rs 60,000 per month to interns will be provided in the form of stipend. Delhi Technological University (DTU) will be managing the entire application process," the statement said.

Interested applicants can apply online till February 25 and applications can be submitted at darc.dtu.ac.in.

"DARC will create a repository of valuable research and reference material for use of the lawmakers and other stakeholders. It will also provide quality research and reference material to the legislators on demand," the statement stated.

It said that fellows will be assigned to work with the legislators and Delhi Assembly Secretariat and in close coordination with the departments of the Delhi government.