Long-term residents face risk of expulsion

In early September 2025, a number of long-standing residents and duly-appointed community representatives received emails from the AVFO’s ‘Admissions and Termination Scrutinizing Committee’ and ‘Admissions and Terminations Registry’. They were told they had 14 days to respond to a variety of accusations or risk being removed from the Register of Residents. Of the 35 residents who received these letters, most have lived in Auroville for more than 20 years, some of whom were among Auroville’s early pioneers. The RA Working Committee commented that “These letters are filled with baseless accusations, written in a tone that is hostile, intimidating, and devoid of humanity. The language and the attitude is aggressive, accusatory, and completely against the spirit of Auroville’s Charter and our aim of human unity.” The International Advisory Council stated, “We cannot resist the conclusion that the show-cause notices list convoluted accusations couched in dramatic language so as to build a case for termination against those residents whom the current administration, for whatever reasons, happens to be unhappy with.” In response, residents initiated a petition denouncing the committee’s baseless allegations and asking for an immediate withdrawal of these notices. The petition concludes, “Constructive engagement – not punitive exclusion – is the only path forward for a collective experiment such as Auroville.”

The continued pressure from the AVFO on visa-dependent Aurovilians since 2021 has significantly affected international interest in joining Auroville. In the past three months, only 23% of those entering through the Entry Board process and only 30% of those entering through the AVFO ‘ATR’ process are of non-Indian origin. Also, over the past 3.5 years, a significant number of Aurovilians from the international community have left due to mounting challenges related to visas, work projects, and means of sustaining their livelihoods.