The volunteers’ financial contribution

For some time, volunteers who were working in services and recommended by the place at which they were volunteering could obtain a waiver that released them for having to make a financial contribution to Auroville. However, some months back the Budget Coordination Committee (BCC) endorsed a new policy that each volunteer, or his or her work place, would now be required to pay Rs 900 a month into the central Auroville pot. This policy was agreed by several main working groups and endorsed by the Finance and Management Committee (FAMC).

This new policy has created resentment among some volunteers and the places that are hosting them. Volunteers feel that their service to Auroville is not being appreciated, and their work places are afraid that the new financial contribution may cause many volunteers to take their energy and idealism elsewhere.

Nicole is a member of the BCC. Here she gives her view about how and why the decision was taken to require all volunteers to make a monthly contribution:

Some time ago, the Financial Service expressed concern that the volunteer status was being abused. Some guests were pretending to be volunteers and obtaining a financial waiver, but they were then disappearing and nobody was monitoring what was happening.

A proposal was published in the News and Notes that would require all volunteers to pay some contribution, and this began to be implemented. It created a strong reaction in some quarters.

The BCC called a meeting and created a sub-group to look into the matter. The sub-group included SAVI, the Auroville Board of Commerce, the Entry Service, the Financial Service, farms and forests, the socio-economic sub-group of L’Avenir d’Auroville, and guest house and home stay managers as well as BCC members. It was agreed that whatever was agreed upon should apply to all volunteers. Various ideas were discussed and finally there was agreement upon a proposal, which was endorsed by the BCC and FAMC.

The new proposal: all the people on the sub-group who dealt with volunteers recommended that people who offer their energy for less than two months would be regarded as guests, not volunteers, and contribute accordingly. For people volunteering for at least two months, either the volunteer or their work place would be required to contribute Rs 900 a month to Auroville.

The sum of Rs 900 was fixed because it is the contribution required from those who stay in Mitra hostel, and it was considered not a large financial burden. It was also felt that if their work place is benefiting with their input, the work place should be only too happy to pay the contribution.

This contribution also helps cover the administrative expenses incurred by Auroville in regard to volunteers, and helps support community services and facilities, like entertainment facilities, to which volunteers have free access. It was pointed out that volunteers may only benefit the place where they are working, but they can avail of all these community facilities, as well as reductions in Auroville.

The Entry Service also argued that Newcomers have to work free for at least one year and meanwhile contribute financially, so why should volunteers who come here for a few months be treated any differently?

Entry Service originally recommended that volunteers should pay the same contribution as Newcomers and Aurovilians- Rs 3,000 a month. They explained that they had problems when volunteers who had been paying nothing under the old system wanted to become Newcomers and learned they would have to pay the Rs 3,000 Newcomers contribution. The volunteers did not understand why they suddenly had to pay.

The BCC has delegated a sub-group to decide whether or not an exception can be made in special cases.

The policy will be evaluated after a few months to see how well it has been working.