Auroville's monthly news magazine since 1988

Published: September 2025 (last month) in issue Nº 434

Keywords: Governing Board meetings, Security, Land exchange, Eternity community, Djaima community, AuroAnnam farm, Felicity community, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Auro Mitra status, Auro Hiteshi status and SAIIER (Sri Aurobindo International Institute of Educational Research)

References: Jothi Prasad

69th Governing Board meeting further updates

Brief bulletin

 
In the last Auroville Today, we reported that the 69th Governing Board meeting had taken place and we noted some of the major decisions which had been taken. Further decisions made at this meeting included:

  • Security Infrastructure: Construction of a dedicated security complex, including a ‘master control room’ in Auroville’s Southern Service Node.

  • The GB also approved several exchanges of highly valuable Auroville land for scattered parcels of land, many in the Greenbelt and some on the outer ring road outside the master plan, as well as some land in the city area. Affected communities are Eternity, Djaima, Auro Annam, Felicity and some land lying on the Kuilapalayam main road.

  • The Board also gave prior approval for the deployment of 15 members of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) for a period of five years “to safeguard Auroville's development zones and uphold law and order.” The CRPF is India's largest paramilitary force under the Ministry of Home Affairs, typically deployed for internal security, counter insurgency operations, and maintaining law and order in sensitive areas. The deployment of permanent CRPF personnel in Auroville represents a significant escalation in security measures for the township, which has already seen a huge increase in security and surveillance since the takeover began in 2021.

  • The GB also approved new status categories including ‘Auro Mitra’ and ‘Auro Hiteshi’ for collaborators and well-wishers.

  • A “Free Progress” school within Auroville under SAIIER.

  • University-level programmes under the Sri Aurobindo International Institute of Educational Research, to be established outside the Master Plan.

  • Serviteurs Volontaires housing: A 100-bed facility for long-term volunteers and newcomers. Subsequently, an application announcement shared by the AVFO ‘ATDC’ on 24th July informed that approval had been given to Jothi Prasad to build a temporary ‘prototype’ building in sector 4 of the residential zone.