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Massbulletin 06.12.24

RA WCom: Regarding status of Jayanti Ravi as Secretary, AVF

Dear Community,

Regarding the status of Dr. Jayanti Ravi as Secretary of the Auroville Foundation, please find

attached a Press Note (and attachment) that was sent out to our contacts in the regional press

on 2nd December 2024. Following this, a short article appeared in The Hindu on 3rd December.

Link:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/puducherry/auroville-secretary-repatriated-to-parent-g

ujarat-cadre/article68941595.ece

On the 4th of December another article appeared in The Hindu stating that according to

‘sources’, in July 2024 she was extended for a year.

Link:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/puducherry/no-change-to-one-year-extension-to-aurov

ille-secretary-post-repatriation-to-gujarat-cadre/article68943118.ece/amp/

While it is true that there is a letter dated July 2024 stating that she was extended for one year,

a subsequent letter dated August 2024 (both letters were obtained through an RTI) states that

she was approved for premature repatriation from Secretary, AVF, to her parent cadre in

Gujarat, with immediate effect. She assumed her position there on 1 August 2024.

The article of December 4th in The Hindu does not quote any government or public source

which confirms that Dr Jayanti Ravi is holding dual charge.

We note that while her repatriation is a matter of public record, the letter extending her for one

year has not been made available to the public on the Auroville Foundation website or any

other forum. In addition, we have noted that no documents seem to have been signed by her as

Secretary, Auroville Foundation, in recent months, including Standing Orders that have been

issued lately.

We know Dr Jayanti Ravi has appeared at the 5 December 2024 Governing Board meeting, and

are very concerned at the lack of transparency and communication from the part of the

Governing Board around the question of her holding dual positions. This intentionally opaque

way of functioning continues to be a hallmark of this particular administration, led by the Board

and its Chairman.

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Lastly, the Auronet announcement of the 4th December by the ‘Working Committee’ (endorsed

by the GB), which announces the confirmation of Dr Jayanti Ravi’s position as Secretary, is based

only on an article in a newspaper.

In service,

The Working Committee of the Residents’ Assembly Aravinda, Bharathy, Chali, Mael (TOS),

Matthieu, Prashant, Valli