40 Years of Auroville’s Village Action

Four decades ago, in the fertile soil of Auroville, a tiny seed was sown as a humble initiative with a grand vision: to empower communities in the Auroville bioregion for holistic development. From a handful of settlements, AVAG’s reach now pulsates across 80 communities, touching the lives of over 5,000 women, 3,000 children, and 1,000 young individuals. As Shivaraman, a youth from Sanjeevinagar, says “AVAG knows how to read the pulse of the communities and respond at the right time for collaborative development”. Indeed, AVAG has stood with the communities not only in normal times but also during turbulent periods, like cyclones, tsunamis, and the recent pandemic, to facilitate faster recovery. 

AVAG’s office is fondly identified as ‘a mother’s house’ by the women’s groups, where women are allowed to be on themselves without inhibitions. Their trust helped reduce the annual number of suicides among women from 10 to 0 or 1. “I have been travelling with them for the past 35 years, and they look into the minute details and listen carefully to the voices of the people. As an elder of this area, I am the witness to testify to the impacts of AVAG on the lives of women, and it is impressive,” says the Best Teacher awardee of our area, Seenu Venugopal.

AVAG’s work in helping to create women’s groups has initiated a remarkable journey of women's empowerment. Starting with a small group of 68 women in 1995, today the 275 women’s groups have more than 5,000 members. The umbrella organization called the Udhayam Women's Federation now manages loans worth Rs.130 million, empowering women with financial independence and decision-making power.

AVAG’s commitment extends beyond economics. As Anjalai, a 90-year-old woman from Bommayarpalayam says, “Collectively, we weave the tapestry of social integration and equity, fostering understanding and building bridges across communities”. 

AVAG is now meeting new challenges, such as substance abuse among the youths and mental health issues leading to violence against women and children. But it remains steadfast in its core mission: to serve as a bridge between Auroville and its bioregion and build a more equitable and peaceful future for all.

For more information visit  https://villageaction.in/

Photo caption: Pongal celebration at the AVAG office

Photo credit: All photos courtesy AVAG