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Dr. Saima Rashid, Anantnag
Co-Ordinator Public-policy academic advising CPI on governance, gender and social-development research.
**Dr. Saima Rashid** is a medical professional with an interest in healthcare, public health and community well-being. Her professional perspective is relevant to understanding the challenges facing healthcare systems, improving access to essential medical services and promoting awareness of health-related issues affecting individuals and communities.
Her areas of interest include public health, preventive healthcare, health education, nutrition, maternal and child health, and the broader social and economic factors that influence health outcomes. These areas are important to developing effective public health policies, strengthening healthcare delivery and improving the accessibility and quality of medical services.
Through a public-interest perspective, Dr. Saima Rashid’s professional background aligns with research and policy discussions concerning healthcare accessibility, community health awareness, preventive interventions and the effectiveness of public health programmes. Her engagement with these issues can contribute to informed dialogue on strengthening healthcare institutions and addressing the health needs of diverse communities.
At the Centre for Public Interest (CPI), her profile reflects the importance of integrating healthcare perspectives into public policy research, social development and community engagement, particularly in addressing health-related challenges across Jammu & Kashmir.
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Adv. Farah
Legal Expert Advocate driving CPI's legal-literacy work and research on rights and constitutional governance.
**Advocate Farah** is a lawyer by training with over twenty years of experience in governance, institutional development and legal reform. Her work focuses on the relationship between institutional design and state practice, particularly how law shapes public administration and how administrative practices influence the development and implementation of legal and regulatory frameworks.
Her areas of expertise include urban governance, municipal institutions, land rights, informality, municipal services and the legal and policy dimensions of urban environmental management.
Her work has included research on the impact of the Smart Cities Mission on urban governance and municipal institutions, as well as contributions to public management studies on municipal waste management reforms in Indore. She has also contributed to research on property rights and the environmental governance of geothermal energy, alongside providing environmental governance perspectives to programmes on air quality management and responsible renewable energy.
Her professional experience includes work on developing legal and institutional frameworks for Amaravati, the new capital city of Andhra Pradesh. She has also managed a programme on sanitation, examining legal and regulatory issues concerning wastewater governance, sanitation workers and the challenges of providing sanitation services in densely populated and informally planned settlements.
Her other areas of work include market regulation, state capacity, water governance and the human right to water. She has conducted a year-long seminar series titled *Know Your Regulator* and contributed to research examining India's response to the COVID-19 pandemic during 2020–2021. She has also contributed to international research on water rights in collaboration with the Chr. Michelsen Institute, Bergen, including the study *Elevating Water Rights to Human Rights.
Through her work, Advocate Farah brings a legal and institutional perspective to public policy, governance reform and sustainable development.
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Prof. Nighat Ayan
Academician Professor and researcher contributing to CPI's education and youth-development programmes.
**Prof. Nighat Ayan** is an academic professional whose expertise and perspective can contribute to research, education and public policy discussions. Her profile aligns with the Centre for Public Interest’s commitment to evidence-based research, informed public dialogue and inclusive development across Jammu & Kashmir.
Her potential areas of academic engagement include education, social development, institutional effectiveness, gender equality and community well-being. These fields are important to understanding social challenges, strengthening educational opportunities and developing policies that respond to the needs and aspirations of communities.
Through academic engagement and knowledge-sharing, Prof. Nighat Ayan’s contribution to public-interest research can support discussions on educational development, social inclusion and the role of institutions in promoting equitable opportunities. Her profile reflects CPI’s broader commitment to connecting knowledge and research with practical policy concerns and community priorities.
The Centre for Public Interest seeks to encourage collaboration among academics, researchers, professionals and other stakeholders to promote informed policymaking and sustainable development in Jammu & Kashmir.
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Mehran Qadri
Journalist & Media Analyst Journalist documenting public-interest issues and countering misinformation across media.
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Ruksana Jan
Development & Policy Analyst Development practitioner analysing welfare schemes, field impact and community outcomes.
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Owais Manzoor
Volunteer Coordinator Coordinates CPI's volunteer network and grassroots civic-awareness outreach.
