Issue Nº415 – News in brief

The Governing Board (GB) has approved new ‘Admission and Termination of Persons in the Register of Residents Regulations’, and published them in part III of the Gazette of India on January 4th, 2024. The new Regulations, which replace the Regulations of 2020, have been made without consultation with the Residents’ Assembly and hand power to the Secretary and the GB to determine who lives in Auroville.

The Entry Board and the newly-formed Exit Review Group, have been replaced by an “Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee” (ATSC), consisting of five members, at least two of which are residents nominated by the GB, based on a call for nomination from the Residents Assembly. The three other members of the Committee, described as Non Resident members, are nominated by the Chairperson of the GB and shall be persons having knowledge and expertise in the field of administration.

The task of the ATSC will be to scrutinise all applications for admission as volunteers, Newcomers or residents; decide each case on merit; and, after completing the process of consultation with the Residents’ Assembly, convey its decision to the Secretary. The ATSC will also verify applications related to visa matters and recommend to the Secretary an appropriate visa for an applicant and his or her descendants or wards.

In addition, the ATSC will scrutinise all complaints, information or reports received against a volunteer, a Newcomer or resident made by any resident or anyone, for violation of the Auroville Admission or Auroville Residence Criteria, and decide each case on merit, and, after completing due process of consultation with the Residents’ Assembly, convey its recommendations to the Secretary.

The Secretary has been given the power to either accept the decision of the Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee or disagree, for reasons to be recorded in writing. The new Regulations also constitute an Appellate Committee of three members of the GB which will decide on appeals filed against the rejection of an application for admission, or against termination.

Lastly, the new Regulations state that if the Central Government has reasons to believe that any volunteer, Newcomer, resident or any other person in Auroville, is a threat to national security or possible offender under any Act administered in India, it shall communicate the need for removal of such person or necessary action to the GB through the Secretary, and the GB shall immediately cause such communication to be put in action with immediate effect.

On January 9th, the Working Committee supported by the Auroville Foundation (AVFO-WCom) circulated the call of the AVFO for self-nominations to be members in the ATSC.

On January 15th, the Auroville Foundation Office locked the office of the Entry Board without any prior information. This lockout comes nearly 1.5 years after the Entry Board and Service were locked out of their Google Workspaces. 

In response to the publication of the new Regulations, the RA-WCom initiated an Emergency Residents' Assembly Decision-making process. The residents were asked to pass a resolution that the new Regulations are an overreach by the GB and usurp the powers given to the Residents’ Assembly as per the Foundation Act, and that the Residents’ Assembly asserts its right to carry out its functions as detailed in the Auroville Foundation Act. The resolution was accepted; 710 valid votes were submitted online and in-person with 701 people voting in favour, 4 people against, and 5 ‘don’t know’.

In two separate affidavits to the Madras High Court by the RA-WCom and an Auroville resident, the Court was petitioned to grant an order of interim stay restraining the AVFO from giving effect to the new Regulations, and declare the new Regulations ultra vires of the Auroville Foundation Act. 

On January 12th, 2024, the GB published the Auroville Foundation (Framework for Selection of Working Committee) Regulations, 2024, in part III of the Gazette of India. The Regulations were made without consulting the Residents’ Assembly.

The Regulations specify that the GB shall constitute a Selection Process Committee (SPC) and appoint its five members after a call for nominations from the Residents Assembly and from the nominations thus received. To become a SPC member one must have expertise in the field of administration.

The SPC has two functions: (1) to review the existing selection process and (2) to conduct the selection of the Working Committee members.

In the process of reviewing the existing selection process, the SPC has to ensure that the Mother’s guidelines for organisers in Auroville are respected; these have been specified in an appendix to the Regulations. The SPC will publish its reviewed selection process proposal and ask for feedback from the residents who have fourteen days time to submit it. The SPC shall consider the comments received from the residents and upload the same on the Auroville Foundation website, along with its responses. The SPC shall then finalise the selection process method and submit it to the Residents Assembly and the GB. After approval of the GB the document shall be uploaded on the website of Auroville Foundation and come into effect.

The second function of the SPC is to conduct the selection process of Working Committee members. The Regulations specify the qualifications to become a member of the Working Committee which are: to have been a resident for a minimum period of five consecutive years; to comply with the laws of the land, the Auroville Foundation Act, the Rules of the Auroville Foundation, and the various Regulations and standing orders issued by the Governing Board; and to be available full-time as a member. Though the regulations specify that a member can only serve in the Working Committee for one term and may re-apply after a lapse of next one term, the term of office itself has not been specified in the Regulations.

On January 17th, the AVFO called for self-nominations for SPC membership.

As the Framework for Selection of Working Committee Regulations appear to be in contravention of the Auroville Foundation Act which states in section 19.2 that “The manner of choosing the members of the Working Committee and their term of office shall be such as may be decided by the Residents Assembly”, concerned residents have collected signatures on a petition requesting the Residents’ Assembly Service (RAS) to open an Emergency Residents' Assembly Decision (E-RAD) “regarding the Governing Board’s questionable attempt to interfere with the selection process of WCom members.”

The RA-WCom has petitioned the Madras High Court to stay the Auroville Foundation (Framework for Selection of Working Committee) Regulations, 2024, and declare that the Auroville Foundation (Framework for Selection of Working Committee) Regulations, 2024, is ultra vires the Auroville Foundation Act, 1988.

More than two months after the Central Information Commissioner, an appeal authority under the Right to Information Act, reprimanded the Public Information Officer of the Auroville Foundation for not responding to Right for Information requests and not publishing the minutes of meetings of the Governing Board, the AVFO has published on its website the minutes of the GB’s 63rd, 64th and 65th meetings, held on February 16th, August 9th and December 12th 2023 respectively. The agendas for these meetings were not shared with the Residents’ Assembly; the GB has also not sought the advice of the Residents’ Assembly on topics relating to the residents of Auroville, as stated in the Auroville Foundation Act. We publish here some of the important decisions taken by the Board. To read the full minutes visit https://aurovillefoundation.org.in/publications/governing-board-meeting-minutes/

In its 63rd meeting the GB approved the project proposal submitted by the EdCIL (India) Limited for the construction of 1,000-bed student hostel in two phases at Auroville. The Board approved the Auroville Foundation to sign the MoU with EdCIL (India) Limited as per Gol norms. The project cost would be Rs. 82.20 crore (approximately) for Phase 1.

The GB also approved the construction of a town hall in Auroville with the approximate budget of Rs. 50 crore. This new town hall, as one of the most prominent public buildings, will be placed on the north-south axis of the Matrimandir within the administrative area of Auroville.

The Board further approved the Start-up Entrepreneurship project with the approximate budget of up to Rs. 50 lakhs; and the upgradation of the SAIIER quarters (built with a grant from the Government of India) with basic facilities at an estimated cost of Rs. 50 lakhs for 8 units.

The Board further welcomed the presentation of the Organisation and Governance Committee on the need for defining rules, processes and regulations for the functioning of the Residents Assembly and approved the action points proposed, e.g. Auroville Foundation Regulations 2023, Model Code of Conduct for the Units, Activities, Projects and Trusts operating under Auroville Foundation and proposed organisational reforms for Auroville including re-organisation of various working groups.

In its 64th meeting the Board asked the Secretary, Auroville Foundation to take necessary steps to streamline the housing allotment and regulate the housing according to The Mother's perception. The houses may be allotted to the Aurovilians based on the number of persons in their family.

The Board approved the HUDCO project for housing development in Auroville. The approximate budget is Rs. 132.1 crores. HUDCO has accepted to give the financial support of up to Rs. 100 crores as a loan for manifesting (1) the Habitat (extension towards the east of the present Habitat), (2) the New Birth (North east comer of Residential Zone Sector 1); and (3) the Line of Progress (Residential zone Sector 3). Rs 32.1 crore will be borne by the Auroville Foundation as seed money, subject to the approval from the Integrated Finance Division, MoE, New Delhi. The total amount Rs. 132.1 crores is envisaged to be refunded with nominal interest to be mutually agreed upon by the future residents of Auroville through their monthly maintenance scheme.

The Board also approved the CIRHU project, to create an international forum where seekers from all nations will carry out multi-disciplinary research & experiments for the manifestation of an actual human unity, and for finding real solutions both to our planetary challenges and the future evolution of our species. The Board gave an in-principle approval for the approximate budget of Rs. 114 crores subject to the approval from the Integrated Finance Division, MoE, New Delhi.

The Board also approved the setting up of an experiential Sri Aurobindo Virtual Museum under the YEM scheme of the Ministry of Culture and suggested to identify various experts, stalwarts, poets and orators for collecting ideas for the implementation The Board gave an in-principle approval for the approximate budget of Rs. 12 crores subject to the approval from the Ministry of Culture, New Delhi.

Further, the Board suggested preparing a detailed proposal with financial estimates for setting up an Institute for Integral Medical Education in Auroville synthesizing the Indian system of Medicine with allopathy system by collaborating with Institutes of National Importance (INls) such as ITRA and JIPMER respectively.

The Board approved exchanging 27.17 acres of Auroville land for 34.48 acres of privately owned land within the city area. Further, the Board approved exchanging 28.56 acres of Auroville land for 27.91 acres of government poramboke land. Lastly, the Board approved to hand over 1.73 acres of Auroville land to the Panchayat Department of State Government as gift, so as to make a VIP Road. The State Government has agreed to make this road.

The Board in-principle approved the construction of a boundary wall around the inner circle of the outer ring road. As the costs of erecting a barbed wire fencing are cheaper to the tune of about 50% to the cost for prefabricated cement structure, the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) submitted a revised quotation for Rs.18.69 crores. The GB approved the work as per the revised estimates of the CPWD.

The Board approved starting an Atal Community Innovation Centre in Auroville with a matching contribution of Rs.2.5 Crore. [The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog is a Government of India’s flagship initiative to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the country and was set up in 2016, eds].

The Board has noted the MoU signed between IIT, Madras and the Auroville Foundation and approved the allocation of 105 acres of land for the said proposal. [no details on the MoU were included in the minutes, eds.]

The Board approved the Donation Channeling Process framed by the GB-FAMC which provides for an online portal for registration of projects for which donations are to be raised, regarding processes involved in disbursement of donated funds to the projects, furnishing quarterly reports to the donors and checks to monitor the projects continuously. The Board also formed a committee to monitor the donation channeling processes.

The Board approved the loan proposal of the GB-FAMC to provide support to existing units and startups of Auroville by providing loans from the capital available with Auroville which are at present in fixed deposits with banks. The loans will be processed by a Loan Management Team and on its recommendation, loans will be approved by a Loan Approval Team.

The Board approved seeking extension of time for implementation of the Auroville Master Plan (Perspective 2025), until 2035.

The Board approved to create three posts at Deputy Secretary level to (i) handle security related matters; (ii) accounts & audit related matters and for (iii) general administration of the Office of the Foundation. This will provide sufficient time for the Secretary to concentrate on policy issues and development of Auroville as per the Master Plan to make it a vibrant city with the spiritual and economic wellbeing of all the residents.

The Board approved engaging a retired Delhi Development Authority Officer for an initial period of six months to frame, finalise and notify Green Space Regulations to ensure proper management and development of the green belt.

The Board gave its in-principle approval for the draft “Auroville Universal Township Area, Green Belt Area and constitution of Town Development Council Regulations” which aim at controlling non-conforming/unplanned developments in Auroville Township area and Green Belt Area so that development is regulated only in terms of Master Plan (Perspective 2025). Regulations will encourage the general and ‘green development’, which shall be characterized by prescribed Zoning & Development promotion Regulations including Maximum Ground Coverage, permissible land use, and use activities to foster sustainable development & green living, and to combat the threat of intensive non-conforming unauthorized developments in and around the universal town and envisaged Green Belt around the universal township area.

The GB appointed Funds and Assets Management Committee (GB-FAMC) has cancelled all city services contribution waivers approved of by former BCCs or FAMCs for individuals, services and units before March 2023. City Service contributions are contributions each unit or service pays for each Auroville resident working for that unit, and which self-supporting residents pay by themselves. It presently amounts to Rs 3,800 / month. The GB-FAMC has stated that its decision “will come into effect immediately and apply to the contributions due for Financial Year 2023-2024 onwards”, e.g. retroactively from April 2023 onwards. Services and units seeking waivers will need to apply before the beginning of the financial year to the GB-FAMC and its subgroup, the Budget Coordination Committee which will decide on a case by case basis. Individuals may apply at any time during the year. Waivers will only be given for a one year period and will need to be re-applied yearly.

The FAMC and Housing Service have announced a new housing policy, which has been endorsed by the Governing Board.

Some of the key points include: An Auroville House User cannot be the user of more than one housing asset at a time; residential buildings shall be used only for residential use and cannot be converted into guest houses, homestays, offices or any other use; residential buildings cannot be used for any activities involving personal gain (e.g. renting or leasing of the residential building or parts thereof, use as an office for non-Auroville activities); an Auroville house user who wishes to leave Auroville for a period longer than one month, due to which the house or apartment in which the house will be unoccupied, must intimate the Housing Service so that a temporary house sitter can be accommodated during the absence of the Auroville resident; in case an Auroville house user leaves Auroville permanently, the house or apartment will be re-allocated by the Housing Service in accordance with the provisions of this policy; inheritance rights do not apply to Auroville properties since all properties are legally owned by Auroville Foundation, and not by persons who are using these properties.

The establishment of the Donation Channeling Group (DCG) was approved by the Governing Board in their 65th meeting held on 12th Dec 2023. The DCG team will roll out the donation channeling process from 1st April 2024, the start of the new financial year.

In preparation for this, all units/projects presently receiving donations (domestic, either from Auroville units or other Indian sources; or foreign sources) and those new projects / units which intend to receive them, are to immediately start to fill up a “Project Registration Form” (PRF) and this needs to be completed latest by 15th Feb ‘24. Only those units who register themselves with the DCG will be able to receive donations through Unity Fund or via the donation portals.  For larger donations, funds will be released to projects in tranches.

For every request for withdrawal of funds from the Unity Fund, a “Funds Release Form” (FRF) needs to be filled in. All statutory rules and regulations and guidelines will have to be followed by the Projects / Units, including the maintenance of separate accounts for Foreign Donations. A letter of acknowledgement is to go to the donor for every donation with a copy to the DCG. A quarterly report will have to be sent to all donors with a copy to the DCG. 

The Kiosk Cafe (as well as the Dosa Corner space (Cafeteria upstairs) have been ordered to close by the Visitors Centre executives, in consultation with the Assistant Secretary. Reasons were not given and the future use of both these places remains unknown. The dosa service will continue to be available every evening -except Monday- downstairs in the Cafeteria. However, the five employees of the kiosk Cafe face losing their jobs.

On 19 January 2024, five of the six Aurovilian members of the Auroville Safety & Security Team (AVSST) received an email from the Budget Coordination Group (BCC) informing them that "BCC & FAMC are unable to support maintenance on your current positions. Your maintenance will be rearranged according to the attached policy document”. No grounds on which this decision was made by the BCC and GB FAMC were provided. Another Aurovilian AVSST member did not receive any email from BCC, although from another BCC communication thread BCC it was clear they would be affected in the same manner.

Due to this decision, AVSST has to unfortunately announce that it will no longer be able to serve the community on an emergency basis from 1st February 2024 onward and its 24/7 emergency number (9443090107) will not be available until further notice. 

The inaugural edition of the Earthbound Pottery Festival – a convergence of artistic expression and cultural celebration – took place over three days at the Alliance Francaise in mid January. The festival was an immersive experience, showcasing work from Auroville and Pondicherry potters, and included demonstrations, film screenings, live performances and thought-provoking discussions.

According to the organisers, the purpose was to present studio pottery in a fresh and dynamic light. It was also to have fun: the festival was launched with a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party at which everybody was invited to turn up in fancy dress

The three-day Pongal festivities began with a colourful celebration at Alankuppam on Monday, January 15, 2024. This was organised by the Mohanam Village Heritage Centre, who put on this festival every year to introduce the traditional practices of the Tamil population living in the villages surrounding Auroville to those unfamiliar with these customs. There were traditional games, like Ilavattakal Thooguthal and Silambam, as well as hatha yoga. A seminar on Tamil connections to Asia and the World and a flute concert were also part of the programme.

The Unity Pavilion and Shaktikumbh 2024 organising team are inviting the community to participate in what they describe as “a unique nine day spiritual and experiential immersion based on the philosophical significance of numbers in an integrated Indian context” between 21—29 February in the Unity Pavilion. “To the intuitive seekers of Brahman, the numbers offer many opportunities to meditate upon and realize the hidden symbolism, and its archetypal power, its shakti.” The occasion, say the organisers, is inspired by the five dreams of Sri Aurobindo and intended to “revitalise Bharata Shakti and support the regenerative renaissance of Mother India.”

The spiritual force of India is gathered and celebrated every four years with the Kumbh Mela. However, for social, religious and historical reasons, most traditions and lineages to date have been represented by male practitioners. It is envisioned now to build a gathering of female spiritual practitioners, across the subcontinent’s many religious traditions, who can uphold and revitalise the Feminine Principle within, for regenerating, healing and leading our communities, our country, our world. This Shakti Kumbh will feature yoga, meditation, dance, art, theater and much more in the service of a transformational journey over nine days.

Those who wish to know more or to register can write to shaktikumbhinfo@gmail.com or visit https://www.shaktikumbh.org/register-for-shakti-kumbh-2024/