Housing takeovers

In January 2025, all of the volunteers and guests who were staying in Mitra Youth Hostel were asked to leave in order for the Auroville Foundation Office to house a group of 27 financial auditors. The youth were accused of being “not mindful of the Peace Area” and of alcohol and substance abuse although no evidence was given for this. Initially such housing takeovers took place only in relation to Government-of-India-funded assets, such as units at Maitreye and Harmony (SAIIER’s newly-built staff quarters), but more recently have occurred with houses that had been constructed with private funding. This is causing increased pressure amidst Auroville’s existing housing crisis.