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Update & Report
May - July 2024
Dear residents,
We are happy to share with you an update on topics which we dealt with in May, June &
July 2024. We hope you will take the time to read.
Please feel free to visit or email us if you have any questions or would like more information
about topics on our table. Our Open House hours are from 10 to 12 on Tuesdays, in the
former Koodam Office (parking and entrance opposite the Auroville Library) and our email
address is workingcom@auroville.services.
Earlier reports
➔ January & February 2024: click here
➔ March & April 2024: click here
For older reports, please contact our office by email at workingcom@auroville.services
Auroville Foundation internal functioning
Residents’ Assembly (RA)
We remain committed to upholding the voice of the Residents’ Assembly as a statutory
body of the Auroville Foundation, in accordance with our mandate. This includes doing all
we can to ensure that decisions of the Residents’ Assembly are respected and taken into
account.
Meetings with residents
Members from the RA Working Committee continue to be present at the weekly
‘Wednesday meetings’ organized in the Tibetan Pavilion. Additionally, members and
resource persons of the RA Working Committee were also present at the many meetings
organized by the Auroville Council in outlying Auroville communities, on the topic of land
exchanges. We would like to express our gratitude to the Auroville Council for organizing
these much needed meetings.
Emergency RAD on land exchanges
As the Governing Board has approved the Secretary’s proposal to exchange 1071 acres of
Auroville land located outside the Master Plan area, we have called an Emergency RAD on
28/06 to ask the Residents’ Assembly to express their views on this issue, since it would
directly impact all Aurovilians at various levels.
Report - May, June & July 2024
Working Committee of the Residents’ Assembly
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On 01/07 we sent an open reply via massbulletin to five residents illegally impersonating
us, replying to their statement published via auroville.org.in massmail on 30/06, in which
they called on the community not to participate in the Emergency RAD, calling it an
“anonymous and unqualified RAD”. In our letter we emphasized that this RAD is not about
blocking progress. It's about ensuring that any land exchanges or sales are conducted fairly,
transparently, humanely and in the best interests of Auroville as a whole.
Community Gathering at Certitude Sports Ground
A Community Gathering was organized on 06/07, where a platform was given to residents
to express their concerns and ask questions on the topic of land exchanges. Prior to the
event, a video was also created and published on YouTube to draw closer attention to the
matter and invite as many Auroville residents as possible to attend this gathering and get
clarity about the planned land exchanges. An RAD participation station, managed by RAS
members, was also set up on the premises to help residents register their opinion
in-person. The event was attended by about 1000 persons
E-RAD Outcome
The Emergency RAD ran until Sunday 07/07 midnight and a total of 945 valid ballots were
received, out of which 933 participants were in favor of the resolution, 4 participants
rejected it and 8 abstained from making a decision on the matter at hand. The official
results of this Emergency RAD were published by the RAS by massmail.
New Online Directory
On 21/05 we announced the creation of a new Online Directory of Aurovilians via mass
bulletin to the community. This new directory was created following the discontinuation, by
AVFO appointees, of the previous one. The new one can be found at
https://directory.auroville.services. To access it, you will need to login via your
@auroville.community address.
A statement was sent by massbulletin (auroville.org.in) on 13/06 and later posted on Auronet
on 15/06 by those impersonating the Working Committee with the support of the AVFO,
accusing us, the RA WCom, of misleading the community with our announcement of the new
Auroville Online Directory. On 12/07 we responded officially to these allegations, explaining
our reasons for the creation of this new directory to the Auroville community via massbulletin.
Report - May, June & July 2024
Working Committee of the Residents’ Assembly
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Governing Board (GB) & International Advisory Council (IAC)
67th Governing Board meeting
The Governing Board met on 31/05/2024 at the Auroville Foundation Office for the 67th
Governing Board meeting. We have written to the Chairman and its members on the 29/05
to obtain the agenda of the meeting and again on the 30/05 to request the inclusion of the
topic of the recently framed Donation Channeling Process for which we, the WCom of the
RA, have not been consulted. No reply was received. The minutes of this meeting will be
published as soon as available on the Auroville Foundation website.
Communications with GB & IAC
In May, June and July 2024, we sent a number of letters to the Governing Board which all
remained unacknowledged and unanswered.
The International Advisory Council sent a communication on 09/06 to the Auroville
community that was published via massmail at their request.
Here is the list of communications sent out during the past 3 months:
➢ 06/05/2024, To the Chairman and members of the GB, members of the IAC,
Auroville Foundation Office - Selection of new members for the 3 Working Groups
of Auroville
➢ 29/05/2024, To the Chairman and members of the GB - Agenda Request for the
67th GB meeting
➢ 30/05/2024, To the Chairman and members of the GB - Donation Channeling Group
and Processes
➢ 14/06/2024, To the Chairman and members of the GB, members of the IAC - 6th
issue of Voice of Auroville
➢ 22/07/2024, To the Chairman and members of the GB, members of the IAC -
Access blocked for the residents of AuroOrchard
➢ 23/07/202, To the Chairman and members of the GB - Strong objection for
re-organising Auroville’s service structure into new units.
Visas
Pending visas
During the period of May, June and July 2024, several pending visas were issued.
Aurovilians concerned received 1-year visa extensions, while most of them would usually
be eligible for 5 years. Since the previous visa of some of these residents had already
Report - May, June & July 2024
Working Committee of the Residents’ Assembly
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expired several months ago, and since the duration of the visa starts retroactively at the
dates at which their previous visa expired, these residents now have to start the process of
reapplying again which is financially and procedurally challenging for many.
Leave India Notice
In mid-July, a resident of Russian nationality working at the Youth Center and at Wood
Concept received a Leave India Notice. Since then, we have been working with resource
persons to understand and reverse the situation, organizing several meetings with the
relevant officials. We still hope that a solution can be found.
Call to action
If you are impacted by visa issues, with any of the following cases:
● your Letter of Recommendation or Visa Application has been delayed beyond usual
waiting time;
● your visa has expired without a Letter of Recommendation;
● you are stuck abroad without a Letter of Recommendation;
● your received a shorter visa than what you are eligible for;
● you received a Letter of Recommendation with a negative remark;
Please make sure that you inform us so that we can keep track of your case and others, and
follow-up accordingly.
With the help of resource persons, we continue to liaise with the FRRO and RRO, other
relevant Indian officials, as well as diplomatic missions of various countries represented in
Auroville. We keep doing our best to help resolve the visa issue.
Land exchanges and land-related matters
Land exchanges
We shared some detailed information via massbulletin on 08/05 regarding the land
exchanges and transactions that have taken place over the past 2 years. Included is a
detailed report, a table of land exchanges and a consolidated list of concerned Auroville
communities. We have also included a map of the plots involved for the general knowledge.
This has led to a series of meetings in various communities of Auroville, and an emergency
RAD on the topic of land exchanges (see section “Residents’ Assembly” above).
Report - May, June & July 2024
Working Committee of the Residents’ Assembly
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Land access blocked for 2 AuroOrchard Residents
The access to the residence in AuroOrchard of Aurovilians Aravinda and Jasmin has been
blocked by Mr. T. V. Kannan’s employees, the land developer who exchanged his land in the
Auroville Master Plan area. On 22/07 we wrote to the Governing Board and the International
Advisory Council to inform them about these recent happenings in AuroOrchard. On 25/07 a
massbulletin was issued to inform the Community on the topic and on the communication
sent to the GB and IAC. As a reminder, we have included a Timeline of events at AuroOrchard
in chronological order, as well as two relevant previous communications sent to the GB and
the IAC end of 2023 - AuroOrchard Land Exchange dt. 01.12.23 & Rebuttal of false
information by AVFO reg. AuroOrchard land exchange dt. 05.12.23
Evergreen encroachment
In a further step to ensure Auroville’s ownership of the land in Evergreen, and to bring to
light PKS’s constant illegal construction and development of the area, members of our
team, along with resource persons, met with the newly appointed Inspector of the Auroville
police station to file a complaint against PKS. A CSR (Community Service Register) was
filed on 23rd May, and the police visited the site to assess and request the construction be
halted until a final ruling is given in the court case. However, while the construction may
pause in these moments, PKS continues to violate the status quo and the work goes on.
Finances and Assets
Coordination of FAMC functions
On 10/03/2024, the Residents’ Assembly resolved that the RA Working Committee would
“coordinate the functions of the FAMC until such time as the circumstances allow for the
selection and functioning of a new FAMC of the RA”. As a follow-up to this decision, we
have identified a team of resource persons to actively support us in this task, and formed a
subgroup to this effect, which meets weekly. A massbulletin was issued to the community
on 08/05 on this matter.
The FAMC Resource Group (FARG) has since been helpful in handling some issues related
to funds and assets. The group has had the pleasure of meeting with a number of
Aurovilians seeking guidance in matters concerning housing, running a unit, and other
topics.
Report - May, June & July 2024
Working Committee of the Residents’ Assembly
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Donation Channeling Group and processes
On 30/05 we wrote to the Governing Board expressing our distress with the decision
announced in their 65th GB meeting minutes, with regards to the creation of a ‘Donation
Channeling Group’ and their implemented processes, without consulting the Residents’
Assembly through us for such important decisions, in contravention with the Auroville
Foundation Rules (1997). We have requested that this matter be discussed with us in the
67th GB meeting of 31/05, but no reply was received and we did not receive any invitation
to attend the said meeting.
Re-organising of AV’s service structure
On 23/07 we wrote to the GB, with a copy to the IAC, to voice our concerns and strong
objections to recent actions of the GB ‘FAMC’, such as:
1. Reducing the number of trustees below the legally required minimum as stated in
trust deeds;
2. Imposing 6-month rotational terms for trustees, contradicting trust deed
specifications;
3. Compelling non-income generating services, like the Health Fund, to register as
business units.
These changes violate existing legal documents and fundamentally alter Auroville's service
structure.
We reiterated that these actions were taken without consultation with or advice from the
Residents’ Assembly or its duly selected Working Committee, while both these statutory
bodies were upheld by the Madras High Court on 4th September 2023.
False claims by GB ‘FAMC’
Over the month of May 2024, one member of the GB ‘FAMC’, Margarita, responded to
questions asked by various residents with claims referring to instructions of the CAG
(Comptroller and Auditor General of India). In an email dated 14th May, Margarita stated:
“We are moving from an organization with 1 PAN number and 43 GST numbers to 1 PAN
Number and probably to 2 GST numbers as advised by the MOE, CAG, the Auditors and
even the GST Intelligence”. The same day, another statement was: “But things are
tightening with the MOE & the CAG, till last year in March 2023, when the CAG Auditors
ordered the collection of 10 years dues in the CS contributions.” In an email dated 19th
May, the GB ‘FAMC’ also said “Please note that no Trustee is going to be removed, and all
will be in rotation as suggested by the CAG.”
Report - May, June & July 2024
Working Committee of the Residents’ Assembly
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An RTI (Right to Information) request was filed by an individual with the CAG to ask for
documents showing that the CAG did in fact make these statements. A reply was received
from the CAG on 15th July, showing that the above statements by Margarita, member of
the GB appointed ‘FAMC’, were not true. We take this opportunity to remind residents to
please forward to us at workingcom@auroville.services any such claims made by the GB
‘FAMC’ and its subgroups, so that they may be verified through appropriate channels.
1000-bed Housing Project and HUDCO Loan
On 30/07 we published a massbulletin containing a document created by resource persons.
This paper examines the Governing Board appointees' claims about an ongoing project to
build 1000 beds and a negotiated 100 crore loan from HUDCO. The document reveals that
these statements were made without proper feasibility studies or consultations with all
involved parties. It highlights that HUDCO confirmed in February 2024 that no
Memorandum of Understanding or contract was signed with the Auroville Foundation,
contrary to what was presented in Finance Committee meeting minutes. The Ministry of
Education later disclosed that while they received a GB-approved proposal for 1000 beds,
it was not approved by the Ministry.
Maintenance and budget cuts
Between May and July 2024, we received indirect reports of numerous residents having
their maintenances cut and many activities losing their budgets. We also heard that SAIIER
was considering reducing budgets for several Auroville schools. However, we lack precise
data on these recent cuts by the GB 'FAMC' and GB 'BCC'. If you or someone you know has
been affected by these cuts, please contact famc@auroville.services and
bcc@auroville.services. Your information is crucial for us to follow up effectively.
Housing issues
We have again been informed of clear cases of mismanagement involving the ‘Housing
Committee’ appointed by the Governing Board. If you are impacted or know someone who
is, please contact famc@auroville.services and workingcom@auroville.services. Your
information is crucial for us to follow up effectively.
Report - May, June & July 2024
Working Committee of the Residents’ Assembly
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Legal matters
Massbulletins related to legal matters between 01/05 and 31/07/2024:
- 08/05 - Regarding the interim stay from the Supreme Court on the TDC verdict from
the High Court
Madras High Court
The summer vacation of the Madras High Court started on 01/05 and the Court resumed its
sitting on 01/06/2024. None of the cases related to Auroville (please see previous report
for the list) that have been filed in the Madras High Court have been listed for a next
hearing.
Supreme Court of India
The summer vacation of the Indian Supreme Court started on 20/05 and the Court resumed
its sitting on 07/07/2024. Neither of the two cases that have been appealed to the Supreme
Court by the Secretary have been listed for a next hearing.
For more information on the reasons that brought the Working Committee to the courts, see
here
Communication & Media
Press Releases & Social Media
● 09/05, published in The Hindu - Public notice reg. the imposters impersonating the
Working Committee
● 03/07 - YouTube video reg. Land Exchanges
● 10/07 - Press release, “Auroville Residents Denounce Massive Land Exchange
Scheme”
Article in Le Monde - French daily Newspaper
On 25/04/2024, an article about Auroville was published in Le Monde International, a
prominent French newspaper. While we appreciate the author's effort to visit Auroville and
report on current and past events, we noted some inaccuracies and mistakes in the article.
We addressed these concerns in a communication sent to the newspaper on 17/05.
On 25/05, the individuals illegitimately claiming to be the ‘Working Committee’ posted an
article on Auronet regarding this matter, which included their own response to the Le
Monde author.
Report - May, June & July 2024
Working Committee of the Residents’ Assembly
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Massbulletin
We continue to regularly publish announcements to the community via massbulletins. All
our massbulletins for the months of May, June & July 2024 can be found in this folder.
Voice of Auroville
The Voice of Auroville journal has published its 6th issue on 14/06. You can find all issues
at this link.
On visiting journalists
We would kindly like to remind the community again that if anyone is contacted by a
journalist or by any other media related person, to please inform our press liaison team at
press@auroville.services, phone number +91 95857 10457. Thank you for your help.
Safety and Security
Emergency Health Situations
We have received concerning reports from Auroville residents who recently faced
emergency health situations. According to these accounts, the newly appointed 'Security'
team was unreachable during emergencies, forcing residents to rely solely on the Auroville
Ambulance service. However, due to the current poor condition of roads throughout
Auroville, ambulance response times were significantly delayed, potentially risking serious
consequences. We remain deeply worried about the lack of adequate security measures
and emergency access since the AVFO took over Auroville's 'Security' operations a few
months ago, and functional roads were destroyed to build new ones. This situation poses a
serious risk to residents' safety, particularly in life-threatening emergencies.
Sea Erosion in Sri Ma community
On 15th July, residents of the Sri Ma community received an immediate 'Emergency
Evacuation Notice' from K. Swarnambika, Deputy Secretary of the AVFO, citing critical sea
erosion and potential building collapse. While we acknowledge the dangerous situation Sri
Ma community is in, our information suggests only one house in Sri Ma was in immediate
danger and had already been evacuated, which raised questions on the timing and
intentions of the evacuation notice. With the help of our resource persons, we are helping
to get some boulders to Sri Ma beach to hopefully stop the erosion. We are also very
grateful to the residents and resource persons who have coordinated presence on site to lay
down geotextile sheets to slow down erosion. If you would like to help, you can join a
dedicated Whatsapp group by clicking here.
Report - May, June & July 2024
Working Committee of the Residents’ Assembly
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Other ongoing issues
Here are some of the other ongoing issues we are dealing with on a regular basis:
➢ Matrimandir Lake: Despite the taskforce coming up with an alternative concept
design as an example of an approach that could bring everyone on the same page,
and our suggestion to create a third party assessment team, the Matrimandir
executives have continued to implement their vision of the Matrimandir Lake.
➢ Delegations to various officials: We continue to organize and/or participate in
delegations to various officials at all levels, with the help of resource persons and of
our liaison officers.
➢ Maintenances stopped: Our maintenances have been discontinued as of January
2023, along with other RA-selected and RA-endorsed groups. Thanks to the
support of many community members and well-wishers, we are still being
supported - we are grateful for this show of solidarity. If you would like to help,
please write to bccoffice@auroville.services.
➢ Archives: Please send any material you have to archives@auroville.services so that
it can be properly classified and preserved.
➢ Internal communication being blocked: Communication between @auroville.org.in
and @auroville.services is still being blocked.
➢ Conflict resolution: We are regularly involved in helping to resolve conflictual
situations, either directly or through the CRP3 (a subgroup of the Auroville Council
with representatives of AVC, WCom, Mattram and resource persons).
➢ Interacting with visiting press: If you are approached by or know of any visiting
press, please inform press@auroville.services and workingcom@auroville.services
as soon as possible.
➢ Administrative documents and certificates: For any needed administrative
documents please feel free to contact us for information and advice.
Concluding statement
Upholding the voice of the Residents’ Assembly, as is the mandate of its Working
Committee, continues to be challenging in these trying times. Fatigue is accumulating and
seeing the extent of destruction perpetrated by the Governing Board's autocratic approach
sometimes leads us to hopelessness. However we persevere, thanks to the help of many
resource persons, because we believe that the values, unique culture and achievements of
Auroville need to survive this crisis.
Report - May, June & July 2024
Working Committee of the Residents’ Assembly
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We strongly believe that it is our collective aspiration, manifested through action, that will
determine what Auroville looks like in the future; and this is what fuels our inner fire while
we stand for Mother's Dream.
Despite the difficulties, Auroville will be.
In community,
The Working Committee selected by the Residents’ Assembly
Aravinda Maheshwari, Chali Grinnell, Ilayabharathy Somasundaram, Mael Shanti Vidal
(TOS), Matthieu Gardelle (TOS), Prashant Hedao, Valli Senthilkumar
Report - May, June & July 2024
Working Committee of the Residents’ Assembly
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