Auroville Community Nostr Relay

Aggregated content about the situation in Auroville

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Last Notes

2024-06-06 14:04:10

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/5kmxip0hwsbweuyftiv0x/N-N-No-1030-MOBILE-6-June-2024.pdf?rlkey=0utydxfyxsc0vnsm9rsyyssbc&dl=0

2024-06-02 13:40:53

Awareness through the body:
https://youtu.be/_YwOcab5b30?feature=shared

2024-05-30 14:16:46

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/vah0ft8ejepr9goozxo5w/N-N-No-1029-MOBILE-30-May-2024.pdf?rlkey=6j9ad5kavrvn5wwtnnbbyps84&dl=0

2024-05-30 14:15:44

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/rirew23y3op1dncvn9byw/RA-WCom-report-for-March-April-2024.pdf?rlkey=x5umz9pa2lpkrq22i1htk7guw&dl=0

2024-05-30 14:14:44

*RA WCom: Report for the months of March & April 2024*
Dear Community,
We are happy to share with you our latest report ( https://drive.google.com/file/d/17dPlzhpK8YwjQ_wpbSz5JG8VgyBqiWWW/view?usp=sharing ), which covers our activities for the months of March 2024 and April 2024. We hope you will take the time to read it.
Feel free to write to us at workingcom@auroville.services for any questions you may have, or visit us during our open house hours on Tuesdays from 10 to 12 in the old Koodam space (parking and entrance opposite the AV Library).
In community,
Your RA Working Committee
Aravinda, Bharathy, Chali, Maël (TOS), Matthieu, Prashant (TOS), Valli

2024-05-21 16:32:28

*RA WCom: New online directory*
Dear community,
We are happy to announce that our technical team has worked on a new version of the Auroville online directory. This follows the closing of the Auronet directory by the Office of the Secretary and their appointees.
The new Directory is available here: https://directory.auroville.services
To access it, you will need to use your @auroville.community login.
For further information, please see https://support.auroville.community
As the directory should only be accessible by members of our community, we use pre-validated logins. As you know, @auroville.org.in is currently under unknown administration, which is why we chose to use @auroville.community and @auroville.services. We plan to expand this in the future, but manpower currently forces us to start with just this.
If you have not yet used your @auroville.community login, please check your mailbox for our announcement email "RA WCom: Important - New email service for the Auroville Community" dated May 18, 2023 (last year), or request new credentials by passing by the Working Committee office.
We are aware that much contact information in the Directory is outdated, but we still felt an urgency to share it with the community as soon as possible since many residents have been impacted by the closing of the Auronet directory. Mechanisms for correcting the outdated information will be developed in the coming months and the community will be updated in due time.
We hope this will prove to be helpful and look forward to sharing further updates with you.
In service,
Your RA Working Committee
Aravinda, Bharathy, Chali, Maël (TOS), Matthieu, Prashant (TOS), Valli

2024-05-19 07:10:28

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/xv7aiqbwup1fvxba2r3yv/N-N-No-1027-MOBILE-16-May-2024.pdf?rlkey=qqb3zak69bex2tuqvk3bslohu&dl=0

2024-05-08 14:30:09

*RA WCom: Regarding the interim stay from the Supreme Court on the TDC verdict from the High Court*
Dear community,
Although a bit late, we would like to share with you the latest Supreme Court interim judgement regarding the TDC-related cases Please find it attached: (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nLghzCbFrRWn8n144zKpJ8Q9uCc6sETe/view?usp=sharing)
In brief, this judgement puts an interim stay on the earlier verdict from the Madras High Court, dated 15th March 2024, which had invalidated the Governing Board's "ATDC" and had called for more collaboration between the Governing Board and the Residents' Assembly. Please note that the earlier Madras High Court verdict is not cancelled or nullified, only paused until further orders. The hearings on this matter will continue after the court's summer break and the next one is expected to be in the second week of July.
We take this as an opportunity to clarify that the latest Supreme Court stay does not validate or legitimize the GB's "ATDC", or their actions, which remain sub-judice. Among other points, we are concerned that this group of individuals positioning itself as the "ATDC": a) acts in total defiance to earlier decisions of the Residents' Assembly, and the residents' advice or well-being; b) fully ignores environmental and sustainabillity concerns and accomplishments, even though they are among one of Auroville's biggest strengths in an increasing planetary crisis; c) does not respect national and international standards in terms of planning and development; d) misuses funds generated by the residents of Auroville without their consent; e) violates on all fronts the values and ideals of Auroville.
It is also to be regretted that the Office of the Secretary, supported by the Governing Board, have repeatedly appealed judgements which were fair and remain an invitation for mutuality and collaboration, in the true spirit of Auroville. This, undoubtedly, shows a lack of understanding of Auroville's purpose, values and vision.
In service,
The Working Committee of the Residents' Assembly
Aravinda, Bharathy, Chali, Mael (TOS), Matthieu, Prashant (TOS), Valli

2024-05-08 14:29:56

*RA WCom: Report on Land Exchanges*
Dear Community,
We would like to share with you some information regarding land exchanges and transactions that have taken place in the last 2 years. Below is a short summary. (Attached is a detailed report (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TIvjcWmmYyAVkcI6Uc_WMBLSAkEeOIoW/view), a spreadsheet (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TIvjcWmmYyAVkcI6Uc_WMBLSAkEeOIoW/view) with a list (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1U3aYsXJ4aePKroFtzizPKUmbVAUWDqcH/view) of land exchanges that we have discovered that have taken place since 2022 and the conservatively estimated value we believe Auroville has lost, and a map (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NZLe4cWuol_gD-NcOQy8jkBLWysO_Vtr/view) of the plots involved. Note 1: The blue and pink dots on the plots indicate that the exact extent and location of land exchanged on these plots is not sure. Note 2: We are sharing what we know, but there may be other exchanges of which we are unaware.)
As we all know, Auroville is facing governance and financial mismanagement challenges, including opaque and dubious land exchanges conducted by the Auroville Foundation's Governing Board and related bodies.
Key concerns include:
1.Lack of transparency in recent land exchanges, bypassing consultation with key committees and stakeholders.
2. Allegations of undervaluation of Auroville lands, resulting in significant (more than ₹150 Crores or US $18 million) financial losses.
3. Disregard for established procedures, including independent valuation and government approvals.
4. Failure to uphold the principles of mandatory community (Residents’ Assembly) consultation and adherence to Auroville's founding ideals.
Actions taken include:
1. Requests for government intervention to freeze ongoing land exchange deals and conduct independent investigations.
2. Legal notices sent to authorities regarding violations of finance rules and lack of consultation.
3. Concerns raised about the secrecy surrounding land exchanges and conflicts of interest among involved parties.
The situation calls for immediate intervention to halt all land exchanges and address malpractices in order to ensure transparency and adherence to proper processes and Auroville's principles.
If you have any questions please write to workingcom@auroville.services.
In service,
The Working Committee of the RA
Aravinda, Bharathy, Chali, Mael (TOS), Matthieu, Prashant (TOS), Valli

2024-05-08 14:29:39

*RA WCom: Coordinating FAMC functions*
Dear Community,
Following the RAD that was completed on 10th March 2024, in which the Residents' Assembly resolved that its 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", we have identified a team of resource persons who are ready to actively support us in this.
If you have a question, would like advice, or would like to put something on record regarding any funds and assets related matter, please write to famc@auroville.services, which will be monitored by members of the WCom. And if you have ideas and experience related to alternative economies and financial management systems, we would be happy to hear from you as well.
We extend a big 'thank you' to those who have agreed to support us in this important field of work for our community.
In service,
The Working Committee of the RA
Aravinda, Bharathy, Chali, Mael (TOS), Matthieu, Prashant (TOS), Valli

2024-05-08 14:29:25

*Official Statement from the Auroville Forest Group*
Since 1982, the Auroville Forest Group, has been the official body mandated by the Residents of Auroville and is also endorsed by the Master Plan – Perspective 2025 (Refer - APPENDIX 2: Role & Responsibilities of Different Working Groups in Auroville) as the body responsible for planting and maintenance of Auroville's forested areas, particularly the protective Green Belt around the township. For the past 42 years, this group has held monthly meetings and published its minutes in the N&N.
The Forest Group would like to reiterate its commitment to nurture and protect the green spaces of Auroville.
*Forest Group Purpose* - Provide an integrated ecological basis for Auroville, physically and spiritually.
*Core Values* - Mutual Respect, Commitment, Resilience, Humour, Courage
The Forest Group reaffirms its dedication to a wider economic approach that supports Auroville's enduring commitment to a gift economy. This stance is reinforced by their hands-on experience and highlights their participation in a broader spiritual vision for Auroville.
The FG unequivocally states its intention to avoid commercializing its activities for profit, emphasizing that its work in addressing Climate Change and the loss of two-thirds of the global biodiversity, involves intangible values essential to community survival and the common good, rather than mere monetary gains.
Forests play a multitude of vital roles both environmentally, socially and culturally. Forests are critical to sustaining life on Earth, providing essential ecosystem services that support human well-being, protect our natural environment, and foster biodiversity. Historically, the FG has consistently performed with such an integral ecology.
As stewards of the forest, the FG sees itself as custodians of biodiversity, soil regeneration, erosion control, aquifer recharge, air quality, afforestation and the preservation of cultural practices and ancestral knowledge vital for sustainable living. The group also commits to upholding the rights of nature.
Thus, the Forest Group would like to continue operating beyond profit-driven objectives to embrace a service-based model that is communally oriented, not only for Auroville itself but for the entire bioregion, and attuned to the pressing environmental concerns.
It is with this spirit that the Forest Group continues to operate under challenging circumstances where-in our FS Accounts have been frozen, budgets were cut without any consultation with the residents and the maintenances of 42 foresters and 62 Forest workers abruptly discontinued through a simple mail since June 2023.

2024-05-04 19:16:20

News and Notes 05:
https://cdn.satellite.earth/97c5e2e2fda64e7f21cd391bf5b971703b09986732cc01e55d83b11dfc6b2939.pdf
News and Notes 06:
https://cdn.satellite.earth/1aff0b515854f8d86cbf6dd783c3e2428cacf404f44684dc1f355e7117ef1c97.pdf
News and Notes 07:
https://cdn.satellite.earth/fe5b06651e5b7c47ac386c7e8d50a8228f9db7cdad3661ac9e5c777ca1fe148b.pdf
News and Notes 08:
https://cdn.satellite.earth/98d2126b8e1423e4630a9ba2bd566dab6cbf75c4335b21ca66dd1cd6684ce6e0.pdf
News and Notes 09:
https://cdn.satellite.earth/05f4c3cf06702d34b753c6be4c66e9d82e46c86b6750b1e03f946f8daa25c787.pdf
News and Notes 10:
https://cdn.satellite.earth/e837a690fabf0c34dbce84a4f26d5c1b99d2751f0f6633e7baf1937da4fbc897.pdf
News and Notes 11:
https://cdn.satellite.earth/25dd2ac6847d602f7f35774e1afe93b59c22486501862a60df1253b0cad13a5c.pdf
News and Notes 12:
https://cdn.satellite.earth/57d2655b3da908885c6050d1e3a6986aba9c4f4bf9769ce291f59cd6b5572fb1.pdf
News and Notes 13:
https://cdn.satellite.earth/eec96c5cdd0abc27ec7b0dde4f7cb75e66c28c60f580fc006c80c2323903478b.pdf
News and Notes 14:
https://cdn.satellite.earth/fab6d4ccbbdb8fad174a981510a5cf24df6b9962bdd5a516f2813e015ac8570b.pdf
News and Notes 15:
https://cdn.satellite.earth/1b17105b29a7be8f0b7ec8d0c0173eb5b00cdb3cc0cf085ef5cac22feb0307a2.pdf
News and Notes 16:
https://cdn.satellite.earth/2f77e2737d4f0829906857026d5204dd2b4eb3e3909ccd5db8434443cd0fc723.pdf
News and Notes 17:
https://cdn.satellite.earth/3e1e53efcd4b89181933c2d3c287c29921c0edbffdd52efb97c69cbcc962015a.pdf
News and Notes 18:
https://cdn.satellite.earth/0897276f482d532cdd98e0926ef901d8318dcd26526b2518d7f4c982179e54c3.pdf
News and Notes 19:
https://cdn.satellite.earth/334b6fff79158e52e201ece2ecc1c1a268b66ba82ea0873ab1ef732222494828.pdf
News and Notes 20:
https://cdn.satellite.earth/6e75f3639b4c83e0c63c7029f9f39f7643c673e580c37e49e81ae11d69affdfd.pdf
News and Notes 21:
https://cdn.satellite.earth/bd479f02172e3f1417e247a8fdee51707078bb31cf8f97f7921a4bf950196403.pdf
News and Notes 22:
https://cdn.satellite.earth/a2a793298b98789bdc2a69bd0259470ca887e980a67e031a1b1fa067519388ab.pdf
News and Notes 23:
https://cdn.satellite.earth/d0f548cd38944d73d4a64fdf999e07c580f88e73c2e33d02fd2dca1349f5f8fc.pdf
News and Notes 24:
https://cdn.satellite.earth/2b2af0625138d6dba431eb9d462602470014b0437e6370c23d15323f5c66bfa0.pdf
News and Notes 25:
https://cdn.satellite.earth/0cbb878b1aac55fb5c5b4fe2cc60828be9e655d0a200c4d533aa68e25d9a62d2.pdf

2024-04-29 19:40:45

https://image.nostr.build/2f23096bb471e0b176a8403cf1204d031f5226793d0c573e7be0c8faa29a02b0.jpg

2024-04-29 19:40:29

*RA WCom: Legal Update*
Dear community,
Several cases were listed in the Madras High Court on Monday 22nd April. These are the cases related to the Working Committee and the TDC, and the cases challenging the new set of Governing Board regulations (on Admissions & Terminations, and on the selection of the Working Committee).
The cases related to the appeal made by the Secretary against the order of Justice Quddhose of August 2022, recognising the RA and its Working Committee, was initially postponed to Thursday 25th April and then it was deferred again. The cases challenging the new Governing Board regulations were discussed briefly on April 22nd and then adjourned to 19th June. These are the regulations that were stayed by the High Court in February and the stay will continue until the next hearing.
The Secretary of the Auroville Foundation has also made an appeal in the Supreme Court in Delhi, against the Order of the Madras High Court of 15th March quashing the Standing Order constituting the Governing Board's 'ATDC'. The appeal was heard in the Supreme Court today, 29th April, with a bench that included the same judge for the appeal of the NGT case. An interim stay has been granted and a new hearing has been scheduled for the second week of July. We are waiting now for the publication of the order to understand the extent of the stay and the implications.
We will keep you updated on any new developments.
In service,
Your RA Working Committee
Aravinda, Bharathy, Chali, Maël (TOS), Sauro, Valli

2024-04-26 15:28:22

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ezxkjdhkv0egetqgjwqv7/N-N-No-1024-MOBILE-25-April-2024.pdf?rlkey=vvgaefu4edtarpm8krfxryzpi&dl=0

2024-04-26 15:27:48

*RA WCom: Note to the community regarding emails from 'famc@auroville.org.in'*
Dear community,
We write to you regarding emails that several people have received from the GB-FAMC with the request to vacate at the earliest the Auroville assets they are stewarding to make way for roads or ‘lines of force’. It is not in the direct purview of the GB-FAMC to take on matters of planning and development. As you may be aware, the ATDC constituted by the GB under Section 16 of the Auroville Foundation (AVF) Act, which had been directing such work, has been declared invalid by the Madras High Court judgment of *15th March 2024* ( https://drive.google.com/file/d/120T3uASanOjC-d365w5iE5-rmfCrvnKI/view?usp=sharing ).
Legal notices regarding this have been sent to the CPWD and the AVF office on *8th April 2024* ( https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BTGDvCbPVIbamYVwk5Y2KykvcOqW0vR4/view?usp=sharing ), and separately to the 'ATDC' on *15th March 2024* ( https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OF2IHfJ5M8igrtcVKPjpFbryPgq9B_Ax/view?usp=sharing ).
Therefore we question the decisions of the ATDC on this basis, as well as the fact that it did not have a GB member, which is a requirement of any committee constituted by the GB under Section 16 of the Act.
Additionally, the 'GB-FAMC' was also constituted by the GB under Section 16 of the Act so the only member with 'voting rights', i.e. decision-making power, is the ex-officio GB member named in the Standing Order. The relevant minutes of the FAMC, signed by this GB member, in which he authorises this decision, should be shared when such demands are being made.
With the above in mind, we do not recognise the decisions taken by these groups.
In case you or someone you know also receives a letter from the GB-FAMC with this type of request, it is good to ask questions such as under which authority they are acting and for the detailed plans of the area. Another important action would be, in case any workers or other individuals appear onsite, to ask them for work orders. If they cannot show any, then ask for a supervisor to come onsite with a work order, and then show them the legal notices and court ruling.
Please contact us if you receive such a communication or if someone shows up onsite. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.
in Service,
The Working Committee of the RA (Aravinda, Bharathy, Chali, Mael (TOS), Sauro, Valli)
L’avenir d’Auroville (Anan, Divya L, Dorle, Island, Lata I, Natasha S, Tom G)

2024-04-23 10:57:15

*RA WCom: Invitation to a GM about preliminary draft regulations for the TDC*
Dear Community,
We request your presence for a General Meeting on the *30th of April, 2024, in Kalabhumi at 6 pm*, regarding formulating draft regulations about the constitution and function of the Town Development Council (TDC).
As you may be aware, on the 15th of March the Madras High Court (MHC) gave a ruling on the Standing Order issued by the Secretary on behalf of the Governing Board (GB) for the appointment and functioning of the TDC ( https://drive.google.com/file/d/1L_qk3RQKd0T1bBtcbhSw7B-jxqN7EM1Q/view ). In a nutshell, the Standing Order constituting the TDC is invalid. A new TDC can be constituted only after new regulations are made, approved by the GB and published in the Gazette of the Government of India.
Another point in the ruling states as follows: However, it will be open for the respondent Foundation, through its Governing Board, to frame fresh regulations in tune with the provision of the Act and the observations made herein.
Many of the observations made in the judgement are related to the role of the Residents’ Assembly in planning and development, including choosing the TDC. Therefore, L’avenir d’Auroville (formerly RA TDC), in consultation with the Working Committee, have taken the initiative to draft a preliminary set of regulations to be presented to the GB for their approval.
We would like to present this draft to the community and invite feedback. The meeting will start with a short welcome to the new members of the Auroville Council, Entry Board and Working Committee before presenting the draft preliminary regulations and having a short Q&A session.
In Service,
The Working Committee of the RA (Aravinda, Bharathy, Chali, Mael (TOS), Sauro, Valli)
L’avenir d’Auroville (Anan, Divya L., Dorle, Island, Lata, Natasha, Tom)

2024-04-18 12:27:11

- reply

https://youtu.be/moFaD2iJXyU

2024-04-18 12:26:35

*Matrimandir Lake, An Alternative Design Concept - April 2024 *
Dear community,
We are happy to share an alternative design concept for the Matrimandir Lake with the community, proposed by a team of Indian landscape planners and architects.
The vision calls for the Matrimandir and its gardens to be surrounded by a lake, a challenge on many levels; ecological, aesthetic, functional and technical.
This alternative landscape design concept for the Matrimandir lake and its surrounding park, not only addresses these challenges but also sets out a direction of design that is inclusive and aesthetic while providing for a living water body.
Please take 5 minutes to watch this video, as this could be the way forward to harmonize and unify the different views on the design of the lake surrounding the soul of Auroville.
The Matrimandir Lake Task Force. 🙏🏽

2024-04-18 12:25:27

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/jg0m36gjvungfrq4qpya4/N-N-No-1023-MOBILE-18-April-2024.pdf?rlkey=a95ux91bdwpk3mux7r4sozrvw&dl=0

2024-04-17 16:08:06

🔎 *REMINDER*: we invite you now to share constructive feedback on nominees who stepped forward to serve in one of the working groups (Auroville Council, Entry Board and Working Committee).
✅ Please refer to the final list of candidates and give your feedback: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WXfAS8PaGluNsgcxsqiQunfI1E0jQbc9/view?usp=sharing
✅ More details: https://mailchi.mp/auroville/sp-2024-feedback-re-1001650

2024-04-16 20:03:52

*[Last Day Tomorrow] ✨🌿 Request to Halt the Excavation of the Matrimandir Lake for an Integrated Development Process 💧✨*
Dear Auroville community,
Since the last reminder we received a total of nearly 400 signatures.
We encourage you to watch the video to understand the ongoing work in Matrimandir.
Please also share this petition with your friends and neighbours:
- *Video Link:* https://youtu.be/burl_KPoDS4
- *Petition Link*: https://forms.gle/m1gKxwvsLYVfXXMq7
After the verification process, the list of signatures will be entrusted to the RA Working Committee.
The people who initiated this petition will communicate with the Matrimandir executives, the lake team and other concerned parties.
Please note that your name will not be disclosed.
Solidarity,
Concerned Residents

2024-04-14 07:38:32

*[🚨Reminder and a Video]
✨🌿 Request to Halt the Excavation of the Matrimandir Lake for an Integrated Development Process 💧✨*
Dear community,
So far we have collected nearly 300 signatures for this petition. Thank you to everyone who supported this petition.
To shed light on this pressing issue, we've made a 3 min concise video detailing the ongoing excavation. Watch it here: https://youtu.be/burl_KPoDS4
Despite its magnitude, the lake project lacks the transparency our community deserves. It's imperative that the Matrimandir executives engage with our concerns and pause the ongoing excavation, and provide transparent communication as soon as possible.
Every signature counts. Add yours to the petition before our deadline on Wednesday, *April 17th, at midnight.*
Together, we can enact positive change. Let us uphold our vision for a participatory governance and sustainable livelihoods.
Sign the petition now: https://forms.gle/m1gKxwvsLYVfXXMq7
In solidarity,
Concerned Residents

2024-04-11 09:29:36

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/gsyf4hpv1jg8qfktb47wt/N-N-No-1022-MOBILE-11-April-2024.pdf?rlkey=o662p7anage7u9y5iwpm9j8nn&dl=0

2024-04-06 12:29:13

✨🌿 *Request to Halt the Excavation of the Matrimandir Lake for an Integrated Development Process *💧✨
Dear community,
If you are alarmed and concerned about the ongoing excavation of the Matrimandir lake, and would like to sign a petition regarding this matter, please click on the link:
https://forms.gle/ovLcJuB1vLViWhzs9
Concerned Residents

2024-04-06 12:29:00

*AV Council: Communication about the News & Notes*
Dear Community,
This is an important communication about the News & Notes. Please take the time to read.
*Background & context*
We would like to remind you that in December 2022, following instructions from the Auroville Foundation Office (AVFO), the Auroville News & Notes began censoring the content received from a portion of the Residents’ Assembly. The censorship was targeted at, but not limited to, the working groups selected by the Residents' Assembly, adding to a long list of actions intended to silence the voice of the wider community.
In response to this, a collective letter (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OHQXwETWuz2HmwzjnCwQcrv7RIWJ5Ggt/view) requesting the N&N managers to continue publishing the announcements of the working groups selected by the RA was signed by nearly 500 residents, AVI members, and well-wishers, and shared with N&N on 15th February 2023. On the 6th of March 2023, the AVI board sent a letter to the AVF Secretary (https://mcusercontent.com/9244e69e1de863b0879cf34d0/files/31c5843d-7ae1-4084-54c3-39946a5aa673/Letter_to_Dr._Ravi_6_3_2023.pdf) requesting among other things “to allow the editors of News & Notes to be inclusive and include the reports of the RA groups as well, as it used to be”. Both these communications were ignored.
Finally after many attempts of bringing the N&N managers to their senses (see report: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_XyqTkZQUPHVFwJBW19Jub-ZX2-w8nzx/edit), in March/April 2023, the Auroville Council officially dismissed and replaced the existing managers with a new team.
Unfortunately, the old managers ignored their dismissal and continued publishing their censored newsletter. This newsletter continues to receive funds allocated by the AVFO ‘BCC’, the same ‘BCC’ which has progressively acted against the best interests of the community at large, with all manner of mismanagement of community funds, including arbitrarily cutting about 180 maintenances and extorting funds from units and individuals with little to no consideration for their well being.
The real Auroville News & Notes on the other hand has continued with a new team relying on funds creatively raised on a month by month basis. It was decided to call the real News & Notes the "RA edition" to differentiate it from the censored newsletter. This transition has not been easy with no financial support from the Central Fund and with the need for secrecy so as not to attract unwanted reprisal for the people involved.
However, for about a year the RA edition of the News & Notes has been released every week, thanks to a committed team of volunteering residents. Today, the RA News & Notes is sent to more than 3000 people weekly and it is also printed and distributed to most public places and to Aurovilians who requested it.
*Important request*
Regardless of all of the above, we have noticed an unfortunate trend whereby many residents continue to send their announcements and content to the censored newsletter, despite it not recognising the Residents' Assembly and its working groups. Sending your content to them supports the censorship of the Residents' Assembly, helping to legitimise and normalise the AVFO’s actions. We ask you to please reflect that continuing to send them your content does have real consequences and further weakens the already beleaguered Residents’ Assembly.
Therefore, we kindly ask that you please send your content to the RA edition of the News & Notes (newsandnotes@auroville.services) and not to encourage the censored newsletter. The RA edition of the News & Notes has a wider reach within the community than that of the censored newsletter so if you worry that you won't reach people this is unfounded.
*Practical details*
Email ID for submissions:
newsandnotes@auroville.services or
aurovillenewsandnotes@auroville.services
Link (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeFybN7h98NnoJqShg66zVOkAiOCsjjN23KkmlOPuZDYvoXRw/viewform) to submission form for people with @auroville.org.in mail IDs.
Link (https://auroville.media/newsandnotes/) to subscribe and read past issues.
Deadline for submission: TUESDAY, 5 pm
—
We request you to please stand in solidarity with us as we endeavour to fulfil the rightful role of the Residents’ Assembly for the purpose of realising the Dream and the Auroville Charter.
Sincerely,
Auroville Council

2024-04-05 00:39:34

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/1dk7e9pjbjo79skiq8j8e/N-N-No-1021-MOBILE-4-April-2024.pdf?rlkey=cem4h55jj7ktjxog63ijd0xu1&dl=0

2024-04-02 10:46:18

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/qpyzxclui2ia3r0x3kmy3/N-N-No-1020-MOBILE-28-March-2024.pdf?rlkey=eyta6ao0dij3z50nr8ml9qf3j&dl=0

2024-04-02 10:45:38

✅ *NOMINATIONS FOR THE SELECTION PROCESS 2024 - ONLY 4 DAYS LEFT!*
❗️Nominate yourself and/or others: https://auroville.formstack.com/forms/working_group_nominations_2024
❗️More details and current list of Nominees: https://mailchi.mp/auroville/sp-2024-nominations-re3-1001618

2024-04-02 10:45:22

*Closing timings end of financial year
*
The *Financial Service* will be closed on Monday, April 1, 2024, due to the closing of the financial year.
*Pourtous PTPS aspiration* will be closed Saturday, Sunday and possibly Monday* for inventory.
Our gratitude for your understanding
Your pourtous team
*If we manage we'll be open Monday

2024-04-02 10:44:50

*RA WCom: Update on cases in the High Court*
Dear Community,
This week has been very busy and intense for Auroville matters in the Madras High Court. Hearings took place every day from Monday, 25th March, through Thursday, 28th March.
- The cases challenging the two sets of regulations published in the Gazette of India by the Secretary, concerning Admission and Termination of residents and the Selection of the Working Committee, were listed on March 25th and then, after a short discussion, posted for another hearing on April 22nd.
- On Tuesday, March 26th, the appeal by the Secretary of the Auroville Foundation on the Working Committee case (judgement given by Justice Quddhose in August 2022) was listed along with residual TDC matters. They weren't heard due to lack of time and have been postponed to 10th of June after the High Court summer break.
- The Quo Warranto case was heard at length over two days on 27th and 28th March. Each hearing lasted for more than one hour. Arguments have now been heard from both sides and the judge has reserved her decision. (This means that she will be giving a final judgement even if she is moved to a different bench during the normal rotation on 1st April.) She has asked both parties to submit, in writing, a timeline of the events related to the Working Committee selection and appointment, without interpretations.
- On 26th March a petition was filed by an Auroville resident regarding land transactions, including land exchange. The petition asks the court to: A) order the Secretary to follow specified sections of the Auroville Foundation Rules, 1997, as well as financial rules of the Central Government, B) to cancel all registrations of land exchanges since 2021 that have not followed these rules. Yesterday, 28th, the judge issued a notice and the Secretary of the Auroville Foundation has been given four weeks time to submit a counter.
We are deeply grateful for the integrity and goodness of the lawyers who are representing us.
Your Working Committee
Aravinda, Bharathy, Chali, Mael (TOS), Sauro, Valli

2024-04-02 10:44:07

*SELECTION PROCESS 2024 - NOMINATIONS ARE STILL OPEN!* Please nominate yourself and/or others: https://auroville.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=58b6ec3cf1df25237747c2365&id=da5dce9a98&e=e1e2fe3254 *Nomination process will close on Monday, April 1st*

2024-03-27 06:50:26

*RA WCom: Observations on the 66th GB meeting minutes*
Dear community,
We would like to share with you our observations (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1g1JBgyKBUXqJtnwFIZ49bFo2wlLhT6Nx/view) on the minutes of the 66th meeting of the Governing Board (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1X2WpokYG5JBe1dud-75v3BmAd43gcVDM/view).
We hope you will take the time to read both these meeting minutes and our observations, as they contain several points of concern.
Warmly,
Your RA Working Committee
Aravinda, Bharathy, Chali, Maël (TOS), Sauro, Valli

2024-03-27 06:49:51

🔆 *GENERAL MEETING ON THE SELECTION PROCESS*
Dear Residents,
We invite you to join us at a General Meeting on the Selection Process:
*TODAY*
TUESDAY, MARCH 26th
*5pm - 6pm*
*KALABHUMI*
More details: https://mailchi.mp/auroville/sp-2024-gm-post-re-1001610

2024-03-27 06:49:28

https://image.nostr.build/72e942d30c09b052b050e2f585acf8be6fb7e599d00db050cbca3bac21bdcfae.jpg

2024-03-27 06:48:33

*RA WCom: Reports for the months of September 2023 to February 2024*
Dear Community,
We are happy to share with you two reports, which cover our activities for the months of September 2023 to February 2024. We hope you will take the time to read them.
Due to the ongoing developments and our packed agenda, we had struggled to publish such activity reports in the past months; but we are happy to announce that, thanks to the help of resource persons, we should now be able to resume publishing our bimonthly reports on a regular basis.
Please find attached:
-* Update & Report - September to December 2023* (https://drive.google.com/file/d/10zC7SddLCED8VG7pMGLfKUYvRBjJHm88/view)
- *Update & Report - January & February 2024* (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pQXmAdQr06IYG-spB0SncwrcMEV8BX_V/view)
Also, please note that links to access earlier communications and reports are included in our September to December 2023 report.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have either by email (workingcom@auroville.services) or in person at our open house on Tuesdays from 10 to 12.
In community,
Your RA Working Committee
Aravinda, Bharathy, Chali, Maël (TOS), Sauro, Valli

2024-03-27 06:47:55

*RA WCom: Communication with the Governing Board*
Dear Community,
We would like to share with you a letter written by the Aurovilian petitioner in the case relating to the Town Development Council (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DGipumgupfgPeNnz9F8aJJ43u1VMxzuz/view?usp=sharing) that has recently received a judgement by the Hon’ble Madras High Court (see our massbulletin dated 17th March for the relevant court order).
We have forwarded this letter to the Governing Board and its Secretary, with a copy to the International Advisory Council. The only responses received so far were by two members of the IAC, in their individual capacity. We will inform you of new developments, if any.
In community,
Your RA Working Committee
Aravinda, Bharathy, Chali, Maël (TOS), Sauro, Valli

2024-03-22 21:51:44

https://youtu.be/U1y6dzVfoaU

2024-03-22 13:03:22

*RA WCom: Process update - When someone passes away in Auroville*
Dear community,
We want to bring to your attention an important and sensitive topic. It concerns some matters that come up in the case of your, or a friend or family members' passing. We've added an additional paragraph about personal belongings in the attached document (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mClmv9_in2DgEisdKUS1Ef-FRybQdLT7dd7u6Hv4n-M/edit), which we've circulated previously. Please take a few minutes to go through it.
We take this moment to give you a gentle reminder to be aware of, and informed about, these matters so that your wishes will be seen to by your friends, family, and loved ones.
If you have any questions, as always, please do not hesitate to contact us at workingcom@auroville.services.
Sincerely,
The Working Committee of the Residents' Assembly
Aravinda, Bharathy, Chali, Maël (TOS), Sauro, Valli

2024-03-22 13:02:15

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/4h5lczim1u4dzkw6uz93s/N-N-No-1019-MOBILE-21-March-2024.pdf?rlkey=qqv5z344jr4tper4ews2ltbar&dl=0

2024-03-22 13:01:42

*RA WCom: Fruit trees leased to highest bidders by Office of the Secretary*
Dear community,
We would like to inform you about the latest developments regarding the (mis)management of Auroville farms by the Auroville Foundation's Office of the Secretary (AVFO). As usual, neither the Residents' Assembly nor its legitimate representatives were involved in the process.
On 7th March, the AVFO published on its website (www.aurovillefoundation.org.in) a tender document (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WqDMhuIDMcscW6zyLuQ1XpQnBmE-Tz2Y/view?usp=sharing) to lease much of Auroville's fruit trees (https://drive.google.com/file/d/15kD2lgacrA62pzuy1hkUDP2ZyovSF3Om/view?usp=sharing) to external private entities. In summary, this would give the right to the highest bidders to collect Auroville's organic fruits and to use them or sell them for their own benefit. Auroville farms, which already struggle with maintenance cuts and ongoing land exchanges, are now losing one of their main sources of income. With the survival of our farms in danger because of the AVFO's actions, one wonders if the Governing Board's emphasis on food sustainability was only a pretext to cover up other agendas.
We share with you, with their permission, a response sent by the Auroville Farm Group on 14th March (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cX7iCJztU3ydr1Aid8LqiSx40Hh65IVu/view?usp=sharing). We believe this response highlights a number of crucial points and we invite everyone to read it. We also shared this response with the Governing Board on 18th March (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1S5xocNaAYAybm-KLFiuUC_Uy3xnNazYf/view?usp=sharing).
Additionally, we would like to inform you that we have issued a public notice in the press (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1plyedpITh8OIGmEoZ-AGrhgQ7fsx1FAJ/view?usp=sharing) to notify potential bidders that transactions about the lease of Auroville fruit trees might be subject to legal challenges, disputes and litigations; land exchange was also included in this notice. Additionally, our media team has written a press release on the topic (https://drive.google.com/file/d/10JiuaVA7to4VUMvtRzBr4Oo1-awIViqQ/view?usp=sharing).
We are extremely concerned about this new tendency to outsource and sell off Auroville for the purpose of financial gain and private interests. In the face of these repeated attacks on the body and soul of Auroville, we remain committed to standing for the ideals of Auroville set forth by the Mother.
In community,
Your Working Committee
Aravinda, Bharathy, Chali, Mael (TOS), Sauro, Valli

2024-03-18 21:19:38

📢 SELECTION PROCESS 2024 - NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN! Registration period: Monday, March 18th - Monday, April 1st https://mailchi.mp/auroville/sp-2024-nominations-1001554

2024-03-18 21:17:59

*RA WCom: Update on judgement re ATDC*
Dear Community,
Below is an update on the court decision regarding the constitution of the Auroville Town Development Council (ATDC), published on Friday, 15th of March. The full text of the order is attached (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1acAYjiwGln2U85HH2p9NTjGelu-lkf6s/view).
The decision taken by the Governing Board through a Standing Order of June 2022 to change how ATDC members are appointed was contested by a community member, and a member of the RA selected TDC, at the Madras High Court, arguing it contradicted the Auroville Foundation Act and our Master Plan (Perspective 2025), and limited the Residents' Assembly's input and role in Auroville's development.
The court carefully examined the roles of the Governing Board and Residents' Assembly under the Auroville Foundation Act and found that the new appointment process for ATDC members undermines shared governance and Residents' Assembly participation.
The Standing Order was therefore invalidated, emphasizing the Residents' Assembly's vital role in ATDC nominations and appointments.
The High Court stated that the impugned Standing Order is ultra vires the Act, which means it exceeds the scope of powers given to the Governing Board according to the Act, and it is in violation of the Master Plan (Perspective 2025) document.
In a significant passage [paragraph 12.3] the High Court Mentions that :
"Further, from the ideals of the charter which are mentioned in the counter-affidavit, as also the ideals which are mentioned in the preamble to the Act and the various previous of the Act read in entirety, it would be clear that the development of Auroville town in a manner consonance with the ideals of the Mother is very much a critical aspect. The functional autonomy and the managing the affairs from inside are the hallmarks of the institution. The impugned Standing Orders grant power to the Governing Board and further, authorising the Secretary of the Governing Board to appoint any person as a member of the ATDC without the advice and consultation of the Residents' Assembly, is ultra vires the Act."
It is clear from this passage that the physical development of Auroville being carried out in a manner that is in consonance with the ideals of the Mother is very much a critical aspect.
According the High Court [paragraph 14] "The Governing Board has powers to frame Standing Orders. It can prescribe the qualifications of the Members to be chosen by the Residents' Assembly as also provide for technical members. However, the selection/nomination of the said members can only be by the Residents' Assembly, though it may ultimately lie within the powers of the Governing Board to reject a nomination or selection of a particular person. The Governing Board arrogates the entire powers of the Residents' Assembly to itself and virtually nullifies its existence and role vis-à-vis the Master Plan"
The High Court further states that the provisions of the Act have to be read harmoniously. The overall superintendence granted to the Governing Board should be understood in the sense that the GB is not powerless if the Residents' Assembly or the International Advisory Council omit their duties or if their functions are not carried out properly, but not as if " the Governing Board can frame Standing Orders and permanently take away the functions of the other arms of the foundation namely, the Residents' Assembly or the Advisory Council. Nor it can entrust such functions to the Secretary of the Foundation" [paragraph 14.1]
The order of the Madras High Court set aside the Standing Order for ATDC of 2022 and it further states that the Governing Board may make fresh regulations provided they respect the Auroville Foundation Act and the observations (directives) set down in this Court Order.
Once again the High Court has emphasized the principle of mutuality among the different entities of the Foundation and we hope that it will be possible now to open a new phase for building the City of Auroville in a spirit of true collaboration.
In light of this order, all the works undertaken under the authorization of an ATDC constituted under an order that has been invalidated should be paused and reviewed. Additionally, all intimations for housing demolition or reallocation for development work that have come from the ATDC or signed by members of the ATDC, including the 'Reallocation Team', have no legal validity. A legal notice has been served by the lawers for this case to the members of the ATDC appointed by the Governing Board, as well as to the Secretary and the Governing Board itself. In case anyone receives a communication signed by the ATDC (appointed by the GB), please inform us. If further activity on the radials and ring roads is observed, please inform members of the RA 'TDC' at tdc@auroville.services.
With renewed hope and faith,
Your Working Committee
Aravinda, Bharathy, Chali, Mael (TOS), Sauro, Valli

2024-03-18 21:14:21

https://image.nostr.build/8cb119db9cb695879273fb0a52a2797bd67abb7e3d43b67c3b8d5a66a78d6aad.jpg
https://image.nostr.build/7a53751c921aca10296f4425c404a51d2f907bc5c0cce0b97a6a7bd95c1d14b4.jpg

2024-03-15 14:38:23

RA WCom: Recent developments concerning the Auroville Council meeting room
Dear community,
We would like to inform you that on March 11th, a number of current and former members of the Auroville Council received a notice by email from the so-called 'FAMC' of the Governing Board. The notice stated that "unauthorized users" must vacate the 1st floor meeting room and office space in the Town Hall by the 15th of March.
This notice to vacate (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kunuWzMcG9ZUt895aP7Jg6uUfaVPXui0/view) is an overreach of power and an intimidation tactic that disregards once more the essential role of the Residents' Assembly and its duly selected working groups in the day to day management of Auroville.
We have responded to the unknown members of the 'FAMC' on 14th March (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jVNgEYdRvMcvj4sAm5E9v0O8ned6OaPx/view) and have re-affirmed that this room has always been utilised by groups selected by the Residents' Assembly and that this will continue.
We invite all residents that wish to help maintain a presence in the Auroville Council room, which is also used by other essential groups such as the Entry Board and the RA BCC, to contact avcouncil@auroville.services.
This is an important asset for the Residents' Assembly of Auroville and it has been protected from being taken over for over 20 months now. It is a testimony to our resilience. Everyone's participation and help is needed.
In community,
Aravinda, Bharathy, Chali, Mael (TOS), Sauro, Valli

2024-03-15 12:50:40

*RA WCom: Update from the High Court on TDC case*
Dear Community,
The judgement in the ATDC case has been pronounced by the Chief Justice in the Madras High Court this morning.
The Standing Order of the Governing Board (GB) constituting the ATDC in July 2022 has been quashed, which means that the existing ATDC recognized by the GB is no longer a valid committee. A new ATDC will have to be formed according to the written court order issued by the Chief Justice.
We are waiting for the publication of the High Court directive in order to know the exact process for the ATDC nomination and appointment, and to evaluate next steps. This may take a few days. We will keep the community updated as soon as we have more details.
With hope and faith,
The Working Committee of the RA
Aravinda, Bharathy, Chali, Mael (TOS), Sauro, Valli

2024-03-15 12:44:53

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/txy7nsxciwwnmvths3cfg/N-N-No-1018-MOBILE-14-March-2024.pdf?rlkey=ig8u73c6nnhxd6hq80pqr8yqs&dl=0

2024-03-15 12:44:07

https://image.nostr.build/02c8cf22d76823fe1c3fb54e60453cd5e6ea34dca6da107d857a82de8cbd5883.jpg
https://image.nostr.build/9d6cbe4dacfb7ff6a85e495ee3468ff3eced89c4f63d8634e028120ac479da41.jpg

2024-03-11 22:51:06

https://image.nostr.build/f27d618b713c67a7b213c24e3fa0c550e03f3eb021e61117d7be04d72e889ea1.jpg

2024-03-10 07:20:46

🔴 Emergency RA Decision-Making on the Working Committee emergency functions and FAMC: https://mailchi.mp/auroville/emergency-rad-wcom-emergency-functions-famc-re4-nol-1001582
⏰ *CLOSES AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT!*
Dear Residents, here’s a friendly reminder about the Emergency RAD on the Working Committee emergency functions and FAMC.
✅ *PARTICIPATE ONLINE*
Use your personalized voting link sent by the Residents' Assembly Service (RAS). If you didn't receive the link, please check spam or promotions folders. If still not there, kindly visit RAS polling station.
✅ *PARTICIPATE IN PERSON*
We are happy to help you to register your decision:
*TODAY - SUNDAY* (March 10th) @ Solar Kitchen: 11 am - 1 pm
❗️CONFIDENTIALITY GUARANTEED: YOUR NAME AND VOTE WILL BE KEPT A SECRET;
❗️SIGNING THE PETITION TO INITIATE THE EMERGENCY RESIDENTS' ASSEMBLY DECISION (RAD) IS NOT A VOTE, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU SUBMIT YOUR DECISION ONLINE OR IN PERSON.

2024-03-10 07:18:13

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/f8ezaarnxkgys3xizys0m/N-N-No-1017-MOBILE-7-March-2024.pdf?rlkey=uwb3lrg6zgaw8w8kdkp88et58&dl=0

2024-03-10 07:17:33

*RA WCom: Child Kidnapping is only a Rumor*
Dear Community,
We have been told that many people have recently heard that there is a child kidnapping ring that is active in our area, which has created a lot of fear, especially in children and parents. With the discovery of the body of a 9-year old girl in Muthialpet yesterday, the fear has understandably increased.
We have been in contact with police and intelligence officers. They informed us that this story is being spread all over the district but they have assured us that the story of a child kidnapping ring is only a rumor and there is no connection to the girl found in Muthialpet. (Two men have been arrested in connection with that case.)
Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns. Our email address is workingcom@auroville.services and our open house time is 10-12 on Tuesdays in the old Koodam office space (parking and entrance opposite the Auroville Library).
In service,
The Working Committee of the RA
Aravinda, Bharathy, Chali, Mael (TOS), Sauro, Valli

2024-03-10 07:16:58

☀️ Just a friendly reminder about the *Emergency RAD on the Working Committee emergency functions and FAMC*
✅ *PARTICIPATE ONLINE*
Use your personalized voting link sent by the Residents' Assembly Service (RAS). If you didn't receive the link, please check spam or promotions folders. If still not there, kindly visit RAS polling stations.
✅ *PARTICIPATE IN PERSON*
If you prefer to register your decision in person, please visit the RAS polling stations:
*TODAY - TUESDAY* (March 5th) @ Solar Kitchen: 11 am - 1 pm
*THURSDAY* (March 7th) @ Solar Kitchen: 11 am - 1 pm
*SATURDAY* (March 9th) @ PTPS Aspiration: 11 am - 1 pm
*SATURDAY* (March 9th) @ Solar Kitchen: 3 pm - 5 pm
*SUNDAY* (March 10th) @ Solar Kitchen: 11 am - 1 pm

2024-03-02 16:59:49

*RA WCom: Written orders of the Hon'ble Madras High Court*
Dear Community,
We are sharing here the written orders from the Division Bench of the Hon'ble Madras High Court. These writ petitions, filed by us and another resident, were heard by this bench of the Hon'ble Chief Justice and a second senior judge, since they are challenges to statutory regulations.
These written orders regarding the two recent regulations gazetted by the Secretary and the Governing Board affirm what was reported by us via AV Massbulletin on the 25th of February.
We will share more as things develop, and we invite you to contact us if you have questions about these orders or any other matter in which we are involved. Our open hours are Tuesdays from 10 to 12 and our email is
workingcom@auroville.services
With renewed faith and hope,
The Working Committee of the RA
Aravinda, Bharathy, Chali, Mael (TOS), Sauro, Valli
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/3avbu7gtbwennbk07xn9v/WCom-regs-DailyOrder_Feb23-2024.pdf?rlkey=axusxx9nrp2j5gf73icdwhl6u&dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/xnpu1dqzkp0o991t997c0/A-T-Regs-DailyOrder_Feb23-2024.pdf?rlkey=jp26zbwjv4a2c7iotdtfe5jao&dl=0

2024-03-02 16:57:31

*IMPORTANT*
❗️Confidentiality is guaranteed: your name and vote will be kept a secret;
❗️Signing the petition to initiate the Emergency Residents' Assembly Decision-making process (ERAD) is not a vote, please make sure you submit your decision online or in person.

2024-03-02 16:57:20

✅ *PARTICIPATE ONLINE*
Use your personalized voting link sent by the Residents' Assembly Service (RAS). If you didn't receive the link, please check spam or promotions folders. If still not there, kindly visit RAS polling stations.
✅ *PARTICIPATE IN PERSON*
If you prefer to register your decision in person, please visit the RAS polling stations:
*TUESDAY* (March 5th) @ Solar Kitchen: 11 am - 1 pm
*THURSDAY* (March 7th) @ Solar Kitchen: 11 am - 1 pm
*SATURDAY* (March 9th) @ PTPS Aspiration: 11 am - 1 pm
*SATURDAY* (March 9th) @ Solar Kitchen: 3 pm - 5 pm
*SUNDAY* (March 10th) @ Solar Kitchen: 11 am - 1 pm

2024-03-02 16:56:58

🔴 Emergency RAD on the Working Committee emergency functions and FAMC:
https://mailchi.mp/auroville/emergency-rad-wcom-emergency-functions-famc-nol-1001562

2024-02-28 12:03:48

*The Auroville Global Fellowship - a new initiative*
Dear Community,
On this aspirational day of Auroville’s 56th anniversary, we would like to communicate with you about the launch of a new initiative called the Auroville Global Fellowship.
Given the existential crisis Auroville is going through, it feels more timely than ever to extend a call to friends, supporters and allies of Auroville in India and around the world to join us in a renewed effort to connect and engage with Auroville and what it represents, to navigate its challenges and help it progress towards its deepest purpose in the years ahead.
The Auroville Global Fellowship has been initiated as an email forum on which Auroville Fellows - people who have a deep connection with the community of Auroville, have visited the place and have significantly contributed to the world in fields related to the evolutionary ideals of Auroville - can be informed about current developments in Auroville, discuss them, and become a valuable sounding board. This forum will grow slowly, nurtured with care, and for now its exchanges will be restricted to those non-residents who agree to be part of the Fellowship. As with all things in Auroville, the evolution of the Fellowship will be emergent and its shape may organically evolve with time.
We have already identified a first set of friends of Auroville and ex-Aurovilians of national and international significance who could become Fellows, and have approached them individually. Some of them have already agreed to join, while others are still yet to respond. Once it is functioning, names of the Fellows will be made available to those who are interested.
If you want to know more about the Auroville Global Fellowship, you can read the invite letter (
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1u8mW5qECJBgrOs9GwXYNxtoskjyXLzUI6eKsu5u00vw/edit
) and the Questions & Answers document (
https://docs.google.com/document/u/3/d/e/2PACX-1vQO2p-cq2Fgg1t0f8408tt_oB7JC4tzyQN4S4EWYh-XY3O6SwGjTSOtQ-_GdGzINA/pub
) that we have been sending to potential Fellows. Please note that this initiative has been presented to and endorsed by the community-selected Working Committee of the Residents’ Assembly.
If you have any questions, or would like to suggest names of people for the Auroville Global Fellowship, you can reach us at fellowship@auroville.community.
We look forward to discovering where this new adventure will progressively lead us.
In the Spirit of Fellowship,
Kathy, Maël, Mauna, Natasha and Peter
(Auroville Global Fellowship coordination team)

2024-02-28 07:28:47

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/4z33iqbl4h5db9zyjke4o/Voice-of-Auroville-Issue-5-February-2024_compressed.pdf?rlkey=qy7dtk65y2gifh8ive3osa2a2&dl=0

2024-02-28 07:28:07

*RA WCom: Voice of Auroville - Issue 05 (February 2024)*
Dear community,
First of all, we hope this message finds you well. We wish everyone a luminous 56th anniversary and hope it will mark the start of a new chapter for Auroville - at the service of a higher truth.
We are happy to share with you the fifth issue of our quarterly journal, Voice of Auroville, which aims to inform wellwishers and friends of Auroville across India and the globe on the current unfolding events with factual updates and articles.
This fifth issue mainly focuses on the crisis that Auroville is going through, reporting on Auroville's unfolding events between November 2023 and January 2024. Events over the last three months have been particularly alarming and we hope that you will take the time to read this issue, and to share it far and wide.
You can read and download the full edition in pdf format here ( https://auroville.media/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Voice-of-Auroville-Issue-5-February-2024_compressed.pdf ).
In case you would have missed them, the first four issues of Voice of Auroville are accessible here ( https://auroville.media/voa/ ).
Please feel free to forward and share this email with friends and well wishers of Auroville. This is how the news can spread and Auroville's voices be heard. Everyone's actions count.
Additional people who wish to be added to the subscribers list or be removed from it can email voiceofauroville@auroville.services. Please also feel free to share any feedback or suggestions to voiceofauroville@auroville.services.
As usual, we take this opportunity to express our gratitude to the Voice of Auroville editorial team, as well as to all those who provided us with contents and pictures to illustrate this issue. Thank you!
In community,
Your RA Working Committee
Aravinda, Bharathy, Chali, Maël (TOS), Sauro, Valli

2024-02-25 08:13:26

[Update & Clarification] ⚡️Petition to call upon the RAS to initiate an Emergency RAD on the WCom Emergency Functions and the FAMC⚡️
Dear Residents,
We would like to remind you that a petition to launch an Emergency RAD is currently in progress.
Kindly read and consider signing it from this link:
https://forms.gle/YZ2AmXkFGjteDzkS9
So far over 210 signatures have been recorded, we hope to reach 300 by tomorrow evening, Sunday the 25.02.24.
We would like to address the following questions which have been raised regarding the petition.
1. Why should the WCom coordinate the functions of the FAMC?
• Due to the continued escalation of threats to maintenances and visas by the office of the Secretary of the Auroville Foundation and the working groups appointed by the Governing Board, residents are fearful and therefore very reluctant to nominate themselves to serve in the working groups selected by the Residents’ Assembly. This is evidenced by the last two selection processes in which the FAMC selected by the Residents’ Assembly did not reach a quorum of members as per the FAMC mandate 2016.
• To create a framework in which the RA can fulfill its responsibility to manage the funds and assets raised by the residents of Auroville and reestablish transparency;
• To document the decisions and resolutions made by the Governing Board appointed FAMC (financially, procedurally and legally);
• To fill existing communication and administrative gaps, as well as offer advice to residents about various funds and assets related questions;
• To work on a vision for the future of Auroville's economy.
2. How will the WCom coordinate the FAMC functions?
The Wcom will identify resource persons and, if needed, create specific task forces, all of which will function directly under the WCom.
This solution is a temporary measure and will be used only until the FAMC of the Residents’ Assembly can again take up its rightful and statutory role according to the Auroville Foundation Rules, 1997.
3. Why should the emergency functions given to the Working Committee selected by the Residents' Assembly be extended?
For the same reasons that these functions were given in August 2023, because the Residents’ Assembly finds itself in an emergency situation in which it needs the agility to counter the threats to its role as an authority of the Auroville Foundation.
4. Why is it required to give one’s first and last name as well as one’s community of residence, on the petition?
The RAS needs to verify each signature to ascertain its validity. This can only be done if the complete and accurate information is available.
Your information will be kept fully confidential.
With love and hope,
Concerned Residents

2024-02-25 08:12:54

RA WCom: News from the High Court
Dear Community,
We would like to share the following legal updates:
1. On 23rd February the Hon'ble Madras High Court once again debated the cases filed by us and a residents regarding 2 sets of new regulations recently published by the Secretary, Auroville Foundation, in the Gazette of India regarding admission and termination of residents and the selection of the Working Committee. This time the argument of the Additional Solicitor General (ASG, appearing for the Secretary) was heard. Our senior lawyers had given their arguments in previous hearings.
At the end of the hearing, the Division Bench (the Chief Justice and second judge) decided to give an interim stay to the gazetted regulations until there is a final decision; the final hearing is scheduled for the 25th of March. The orders for the interim stay were dictated in the High Court by the Chief Justice. Essentially the stay means that for the time being the new entry and exit regulations and the new regulations regarding selection of the Working Committee are not applicable. As soon as the orders are published we will share them with the community.
2. The matter about the appeal made by the Auroville Foundation to the judgment of August 12, 2022, relating to TDC, was completed during previous hearings and it is now reserved for judgment. We will share the final ruling when it is published.
3. The matter about the appeal made by the Auroville Foundation to the judgment of August 12, 2022, relating to the Working Committee, was also listed on 23rd February but could not be discussed yesterday and will be posted on a later date.
4. The quo warranto case, in which the group of residents recognized by the Secretary and the Governing Board as the 'Working Committee' have to prove that they are legitimate and enjoy the confidence of the Residents' Assembly, is listed on 11th March.
5. The appeal of the Secretary in the Supreme Court regarding the verdict of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) is now scheduled for 28th February.
We are deeply grateful for the beacon of hope that yesterday's ruling seems to be, and we continue to have faith in the power of prayer and a sincere and active call for truth and justice.
In service,
The Working Committee of the RA
Aravinda, Bharathy, Chali, Mael (TOS), Sauro, Valli

2024-02-25 08:11:30

*RA TDC: Supreme Court Appeal February 2024 - 21.02.2024 *
Dear Auroville community, RA and well-wishers,
Please find herewith an extensive non-exhaustive report on numerous large-scale developments currently being undertaken in the Auroville project area, with links to many documents and reports highlighting the extensive tree felling, removal of understorey and clearing of all vegetation.
All projects of this scale require a prior Environmental Impact Assessment to be conducted based on proper township plans, as well as Environmental Clearance to be granted by the prescribed authority, before the topology, fauna and flora of the project area are altered, such as clearing undergrowth or felling trees.
This had indeed been the requirement laid out by the National Green Tribunal judgement in April 2022. Unfortunately, since the Supreme Court stayed the NGT judgement on December 13th, 2023, the GB-ATDC and/or Auroville Foundation Office secretary initiated a massive drive to remove all vegetation.
This is of great concern to us, the TDC of the RA, so we have addressed our original letter and report to Auroville’s three governance bodies (Governing Board, International Advisory Council and Residents’ Assembly) that are in charge of its development, as well as forwarded it to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
in Service,
L'avenir d'Auroville - TDC Town Development Council
Anan, Divya L, Dorle, Island, Natasha S, Tom G
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/pu2ts3e5g5jd9ddgd4nm4/2024-02-21-Supreme-Court-Appeal-February-2024.pdf?rlkey=f47sh0tw0o9wgqhquwyiyodpt&dl=0

2024-02-25 08:09:18

*RA WCom: Statement by the Auroville Farm Group*
Dear community,
We would like to share with you a statement written by the core team of the Auroville Farm Group, "What is the future for Auroville grown food when we are losing so much farmland?"
This is a matter that concerns all residents of Auroville, irrespective of their backgrounds, views or belief systems. We invite everyone to read it.
If you would like to get in touch with the core team of the Auroville Farm Group, you can write to aurovillefarmgroup@gmail.com.
Warmly,
Your RA Working Committee
Aravinda, Bharathy, Chali, Maël (TOS), Sauro, Valli
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/m10xmdgidlrqp0idt91z7/20240215-Statement-about-losing-Aurovillen-farmland.pdf?rlkey=0bj5vaixka5ahws1wqn124apg&dl=0

2024-02-22 09:58:20

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/cauv83irkh7vllaay9lge/N-N-No-1015-MOBILE-22-February-2024.pdf?rlkey=q7l4pn9ai0chzm155v88t4q8f&dl=0

2024-02-22 08:16:17

⚡️Petition to call upon the RAS to initiate an Emergency RAD on the WCom Emergency Functions and the FAMC⚡️
⚡️ PETITION ⚡️
To call upon the RAS to initiate an Emergency RAD on the WCom Emergency Functions and the FAMC.
Dear Aurovilians,
The Residents' Assembly urgently needs to regain control of Auroville’s finances. The community's current financial situation is completely unknown to the RA, and it’s future is at great risk!
The RA selected FAMC has been unable to carry out its functions since July 2022, when the Governing Board seized control of Auroville‘s funds and assets by appointing a parallel FAMC.
Given the current crisis an immediate alternative solution is required, please consider the proposal outlined in the link given below.
Furthermore the Emergency Functions granted to the WCom in August 2023 have expired and now need to be extended for a period of six months.
Kindly read and consider signing this petition calling for an Emergency Residents' Assembly Decision (E-RAD):
https://forms.gle/XE3fpymDJpZJ6iFc6
We hope to collect the 300 required valid signatures to initiate an E-RAD by Sunday the 25th of February.
Thank you!
With love and hope,
Concerned Residents

2024-02-21 13:47:52

From the RA WCom & RA Entry Board reg misleading statements about Entry process
Dear Residents and Newcomers,
It has come to our notice that those impersonating the 'Working Committee' have recently posted on Auronet a series of misleading statements about the new procedure for Admissions & Terminations.
We would like to clarify that:
1. Contrary to what the Office of the Secretary and their appointees pretend, the matter is not settled yet. The validity of the new Admissions & Terminations Regulations, published on 4th January 2024, has been legally challenged. Until a verdict has been given by the hon'ble Madras High Court, the matter is subjudice.
2. The Entry Board was selected by the community to do a certain work and it intends to do it until the Residents' Assembly asks them to stop, or otherwise instructed by the courts.
3. While the cases are before the Madras High Court, the Entry Board has been advised not to process new applications for the time being. However, existing Newcomer processes will continue to be taken care of at a reduced speed, subject to relevant orders in pending cases from the Madras High Court.
4. As such, Newcomers are invited to continue with their process and Residents are invited to continue sending relevant feedback on applicants, when it is sought. Requests, queries and feedback can be sent to entryservice@auroville.services.
We hope the Office of the Secretary and their appointees can keep a humane approach and let the Housing Service allocate Newcomer housing to all those who are following the process.
Let's keep faith that these trying times serve a greater purpose.
In community,
Your RA Working Committee (Aravinda, Bharathy, Chali, Maël (TOS), Sauro, Valli)
and the Entry Board of the Residents' Assembly

2024-02-19 07:52:14

RA WCom: Regarding cases of Aadhaar deactivation
Dear community,
It has come to our notice that several Aurovilians recently received a letter from the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), informing them that their Aadhaar card has been deactivated.
If you have received such a notice, please inform us so we can have an idea of how many residents are concerned. Write to: workingcom@auroville.services.
It seems this issue of Aadhaar deactivation concerns not only people within Auroville, but also other people across India. We are enquiring on what could have prompted this, and on the best possible ways to address the situation. Once we know more, we will do our best to support those impacted by the deactivation of their Aadhaar card.
Sincerely,
Your RA Working Committee
Aravinda, Bharathy, Chali, Maël (TOS), Sauro, Valli

2024-02-19 07:50:58

RA Working Committee membership
Dear community,
We want to let you know that for personal reasons, Hemant will not continue in his role as a 'member' of the Working Committee until the next selection process, as would have been usual practice. He will however remain available as a key resource person.
From today onwards, Hemant's name will therefore no longer be included in our signature.
If you have any questions, please let us know.
Sincerely,
Your RA Working Committee
Aravinda, Bharathy, Chali, Maël (TOS), Sauro, Valli

2024-02-16 13:53:05

https://image.nostr.build/fcabea8518aec54eeca3863dde80536c6880e3bdaefabc86f607fcbe3da82a9b.jpg
https://image.nostr.build/c98c49295043c96dd079b1a5472e80000646c954f9e4957907410f6f4fc6819c.jpg
https://image.nostr.build/ae53449a707218173459c6147cb7e85463190126971a97a46a00b9c449cfc52d.jpg

2024-02-16 08:29:07

https://image.nostr.build/42d3eeb3d7491db4a7a5cbbcba8a77730f9e8b4dca09fd3f5bcda92948b3988d.jpg
Dear members of the community,
Auroville week is approaching, a time to celebrate the ideals, the diversity and the culture of Auroville. The Dreamweaving Initiative teams warmly invite you to a presentation of the upcoming project and updates from the Dreamweaving Initiative programs: Dreamweaving, Dreamcatching and Self Education! We will be introducing the new Dreamweaving Team, sharing the progress of the past months and plans for the next months.
The presentation will be parallely translated in Tamil and refreshments will be provided. Please join us at the Solar Kitchen Parking on 18th of February, Sunday from 6:00pm - 7:30pm, you can also add this event to your calendar for reminders: https://rb.gy/d3rmq5.
See you there!
Dreamweaving Initiative Teams

2024-02-16 08:27:12

RA WCom: Legal update, 15th Feb. 2024
Dear Community,
Yesterday, 15th of February, there were two hearings in the Madras High Court. One was on the 2 sets of new regulations recently published by the Secretary, Auroville Foundation, in the Gazette of India, and the other was about the appeals to the August 12, 2022, judgement relating to TDC and WCom.
The lawyers of both parties have now given final written submissions to the High Court for the TDC appeals. After short discussions on other matters related to the WCom appeal, all cases were finally adjourned to next Friday, 23rd February, due to the absence one more time of the Additional Solicitor General (ASG, appearing for the Secretary) as he was held up with a specially posted matter. (Requests were made on his behalf to adjourn other cases for the same reason.) Vaibhav, the second advocate appearing for the Secretary, requested a 'long' date but the chief did not agree and has posted the case on the 23rd of February as a final chance for the ASG to appear.
Also heard today in the High Court was a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Vikram Ram in 2019. The respondents in this case are the Chairman of the Auroville Foundation and the Ministry of Education (MoE). Although we are not involved in this case, we will share updates if more information becomes available, since it concerns Auroville.
With hope and faith,
The Working Committee of the RA
Aravinda, Bharathy, Chali, Hemant, Mael (TOS), Sauro, Valli

2024-02-15 09:28:48

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/corsd8e5p5710400nisry/N-N-No-1014-MOBILE-15-February-2024.pdf?rlkey=aqmf7c7rdqvnnquz3ml5iewar&dl=0

2024-02-12 15:07:33

RA WCom: Observations on minutes of 63rd, 64th and 65th meetings of the GB
Dear Community,
We are sharing with you the observations that have just been sent by us to the Governing Board (GB) about the minutes of their 63rd, 64th and 65th meetings.
The first attachment is the cover letter with a number of general observations. Observations that are specific to each set of minutes are attached as separate documents.
We are aware that this is a lot to read but we hope you will take the time to go through them.
In service,
The Working Committee of the RA
Aravinda, Bharathy, Chali, Hemant, Mael (TOS), Sauro, Valli
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/65bxp6qoyqjyboo9co83z/Gmail-RA-WCom-observations-on-the-63rd-64th-and-65th-minutes-of-the-meetings-of-the-Governing-Board.pdf?rlkey=hrjazy5i3yha41bmhzka67vlg&dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/o8v9r9raicgvhk5g597sc/Observations-by-the-Working-Committee-of-the-RA-on-minutes-of-the-63rd-GB-meeting-held-on-16th-Feburary-23-dt.12.02.24.pdf?rlkey=m8yq63rq0g3i7hmkwxsby3viw&dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/2ihfvlc4dmx63ys1x19oq/Observations-by-the-Working-Committee-of-the-RA-on-minutes-of-the-64th-GB-meeting-held-on-9th-August-2023-dt.12.02.24.pdf?rlkey=7etld7cgkafe86tv05wamng1r&dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/r6s4g9tf0rw2ckf5z5cz8/Observations-by-the-Working-Committee-of-the-RA-on-minutes-of-the-65th-GB-meeting-held-on-12th-December-2023-dt.12.02.24.pdf?rlkey=7nvb0qic0ohrw8yuk5tzpxyb9&dl=0

2024-02-12 08:00:52

Invitation to a Dreamweaving Initiative Community Presentation on 18th February
Dear members of the community,
Auroville week is approaching, a time to celebrate the ideals, the diversity and the culture of Auroville. The Dreamweaving Initiative teams warmly invite you to a presentation of the upcoming project and updates from the Dreamweaving Initiative programs: Dreamweaving, Dreamcatching and Self Education! We will be introducing the new Dreamweaving Team, sharing the progress of the past months and plans for the next months.
The presentation will be parallely translated in Tamil and refreshments will be provided. Please join us at the Solar Kitchen Parking on 18th of February, Sunday from 6:00pm - 7:30pm, you can also add this event to your calendar for reminders.
See you there!
Dreamweaving Initiative Teams
https://image.nostr.build/42d3eeb3d7491db4a7a5cbbcba8a77730f9e8b4dca09fd3f5bcda92948b3988d.jpg#m=image%2Fjpeg&dim=905x1280&blurhash=%5E7O4VP0G1CD_0c9m1fX-%5E%2BrYrDaJ00%23D%252KOJTV%5B7%7Bk%3D%24Mv%7En3s%3B0xMy%23%2Cx%5Ds%3Af%23%5EkofI%3AWBNGWBStfBEMjEafax%7D%40RjELbuS4WB7DS%25Vti%5EwMbE&x=e9f3e1332c2ab6e64147fd84c1ffaf405d67301176652b118b7c7adb9c3bd60a

2024-02-12 07:58:43

RA WCom: Legal update, Friday, 9th Feb
Dear community,
Yesterday, Friday the 9th of February, the cases filed by us and another resident challenging the regulations on the Admission and Termination of residents of Auroville and the selection of the Working Committee, which were recently published in the Gazette of India by the Secretary, were discussed in the Madras High Court. Our senior lawyer argued well about the inconsistencies of these regulations with the Auroville Foundation Act and another of our lawyers elaborated on the RoR. The Additional Solicitor General (ASG), who was supposed to appear on behalf of the Secretary, was not available yesterday so the case was adjourned to next Thursday, 15th February, when his arguments will be heard. Also on the 15th, the TDC cases and other matters concerning the Working Committee are scheduled to be heard.
We will keep you updated as and when there are further developments.
With faith and hope,
The Working Committee of the RA
Aravinda, Bharathy, Chali, Hemant, Mael (TOS), Sauro, Valli

2024-02-08 12:44:08

RA WCom: Legal update
Dear Community,
Today there was a hearing in the Madras High Court in which the appeals on the various TDC cases were discussed. After hearing the Additional Solicitor General on behalf of the Foundation Office, our lawyers were heard. There was a discussion about who chooses the Aurovilian members in the TDC, whether the Residents' Assembly or the Governing Board. All parties were requested to make written submissions with their arguments before the next hearing, which has been scheduled on the 15th of February.
Tomorrow, 9th of February, there will be one more hearing in the Madras High Court about the regulations on the Selection of the Working Committee and the regulations on Admission & Termination that were published recently in the Gazette of India by the Secretary of the Governing Board.
We will continue to keep you updated as things develop. In the meantime, let's continue to have hope and faith.
In community,
The Working Committee of the RA
Aravinda, Bharathy, Chali, Hemant, Mael (TOS), Sauro, Valli

2024-02-08 12:05:34

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/e9zxsdnrjsfup77mdlozr/N-N-No-1013-MOBILE-8-February-2024.pdf?rlkey=6hgngdlv3y9s1kolhrc8yiyd1&dl=0

2024-02-07 15:15:16

Residents Open Letter to the Auroville Foundation Office
Dear Mr. Srinivasaragavan and members of the Auroville Foundation Office,
Thank you for inviting us to the planned meetings at the Sri Aurobindo auditorium.
We appreciate the intention of offering a ‘platform for Residents of the Auroville Community to participate, to express their wish to work in any area of activity, any concerns, inputs, and suggestions, etc.’, and for the Foundation office’s working groups to ‘share recent developments, and information with the Residents and respond to their doubts and questions.’
A number of us have been attending previous similar meetings, and the experience has been predominantly of a one-way communication from the Foundation Office and its working groups with residents’ questions being bypassed or inadequately answered.
A true fraternal exchange between the pillars of the Auroville Foundation involves giving the Resident’s Assembly its rightful place and function, as envisaged by the Mother for Auroville and enshrined in the Auroville Foundation Act,1988.
Drastic and far-reaching decisions, that ideally includes mutual collaboration and joint planning between pillars of the Foundation, have been taken by the Office of the Secretary in many domains (including areas that are the explicit responsibility of the Residents’ Assembly.)
Informing the residents after such steps have been taken (and in some cases even gazetted) obviously does not replace the participatory process and consultation that was supposed to have preceded them.
It is this serious over-reach by the Foundation Office, and numerous actions going against Auroville’s very principles, ethos and ideals, that has regrettably forced Aurovilians to seek justice by approaching the Indian Courts.
And since a number of matters are now sub judice, it does not seem appropriate to discuss these in the proposed format, unless the talks are based on a genuine openness of the Foundation Office to listen, incorporate residents’ inputs and modify or retract its decisions, which may allow the cases to be settled out of court.
We look forward to the time when respect and mutuality between the pillars of Auroville will be duly restored, and a truthful and trusting collaboration becomes possible once again.
We all owe this to Sri Aurobindo and the Mother on whose vision Auroville is based, and whose Presence, Protection and living guidance we invoke for the future of this unique experiment which ‘no nation could claim as its own, where all human beings of goodwill who have a sincere aspiration could live freely as citizens of the world’, working together to manifest ‘the city the Earth needs’, also called by Mother ‘the city at the service of Truth’.
In sincere dedication
Concerned residents of Auroville
7.2.2024
A collaborative process would include the Auroville Foundation office issuing pending visas in a timely manner without the many conditions attached, dropping criminal charges placed on Aurovilians, halting and reversing non-consensual land exchanges, ceasing the takeover of city services, restoring the maintenances of farm and forest workers and other people in services, paying the employees’ gratuity, and refraining from selling our health care system to the highest bidders.
A show of good faith would be acknowledging and addressing these concerns and would be seen as a meaningful step from the AVFO to attempt to heal and restore the peace and harmony that it insists as the agenda for the upcoming meetings.
May Mother’s Light and Grace guide us all.

2024-02-06 16:43:34

RA WCom: Open letter to the community
Dear friends and members of the Auroville family,
We are very aware that these last weeks and months have been particularly heavy on most, shaking to the core many residents and Auroville well-wishers.
Attacks on the heart of Auroville have intensified, with callous land exchanges, rushed massive clearing and tree cutting, and new regulations which aim to indirectly change the Act by nullifying the role of the Residents’ Assembly.
Plans to exchange over 900 acres of Auroville's outlying lands, moves to take full control over who is allowed to be an Aurovilian and who should be removed, more maintenance cuts, the planned installation of a barbed-wire fence around all of Auroville's city center area, and the allocation of land and buildings to external institutions are all changing the original purpose and scope of Auroville as it was envisioned in the Dream of the Mother, and will unfortunately be cutting Auroville off from the local bioregion.
We have reached out many times to the Governing Board across the last two years, repeatedly proposing our active support and involvement in manifesting a truly collaborative approach for developing Auroville. Sadly, all these attempts have simply been ignored - never has the Governing Board even taken the time to answer or acknowledge a single one of our emails. Instead, the authoritarian and regimented takeover of Auroville has only intensified, making it utterly clear that for the Governing Board and its Secretary, collaboration and mutuality - in the spirit set forth by the Mother and Sri Aurobindo - were never an intended venture. To face such a brute force of coercion, censorship and falsehood has been increasingly distressing for many, including ourselves.
However, even if the times we are going through are tough and distressing, we have not lost hope. Sometimes, it takes a very little sparkle of light to change the tides. And, undoubtedly, Auroville is a land of miracles. Its very existence would seem to many to be an impossibility; yet, with the Mother’s force pouring through the hard work of residents and all those who belong to the extended Auroville family, Auroville has taken off and has grown tremendously in the past 50 years. Nothing in Auroville has ever been perfect, but in retrospect one must acknowledge that Auroville has already achieved an impressive number of milestones. Nowhere else in the world has a small township of Auroville's scale realized so much, with people of goodwill from all across India and the globe. Auroville is a unique place in the world, an unprecedented experiment in human unity, a gem for all of humanity. The path forward is still long, but much distance has already been traveled and Auroville will not fail.
We invite everyone to aspire and act with us for a truer and even more luminous Auroville to manifest, with the goodwill, participation and collaboration of all. This goes hand in hand with protecting the beautiful achievements that Auroville has manifested so far. Let us continue to stand for our truths in the face of forces which seek to appropriate, twist and repurpose Auroville for hidden agendas and private interests.
May Auroville continue to shine as a beacon of hope in the sea of transformational struggles that humankind is facing today, all over the planet. The bigger the challenges, the bigger the faith and aspiration we must collectively live up to and embody. Let us continue to dare the Dream - this is also Auroville's true purpose.
And may we always remember Mother’s clear, unshakable and powerful words: "Auroville WILL be.”
In Faith,
The Working Committee of the Residents Assembly
Aravinda, Bharathy, Chali, Hemant, Maël (TOS), Sauro, Valli

2024-02-05 15:01:02

✅ *Total number of valid votes: 647*. *99,2% (642)* participants voted *in favour* of the above resolution. *0,3% (2)* participants *rejected it*. *0,5% (3)* participants *didn't know*. Please follow the link for more details:
https://mailchi.mp/auroville/emergency-rad-wcom-selection-results-1001546

2024-02-05 15:00:38

🔴 *THE RESIDENTS' ASSEMBLY APPROVED THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION*: The Residents' Assembly resolves that the Working Committee shall be selected by the Residents' Assembly in the manner it chooses, as stated in the Foundation Act, 1988. Further, we state that the Notification published in the Gazette of India on the 12th of January, 2024, by the Secretary of the Governing Board concerning the selection of the Working Committee members, does not follow the letter of the Foundation Act nor its spirit. In addition, this Notification violates the whole spirit of Auroville’s Charter, which the Auroville Foundation Act set out to protect and promote.

2024-02-04 09:01:49

⏰ *CLOSES AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT!* Dear Residents, here’s a friendly reminder about the Emergency RAD regarding selection of the Working Committee
✅ *PARTICIPATE ONLINE*
Use your personalized voting link sent by the Residents' Assembly Service (RAS). If you didn't receive the link, please check spam or promotions folders. If still not there, kindly visit RAS polling station.
✅ *PARTICIPATE IN PERSON*
We are happy to help you to register your decision:
*TODAY - SUNDAY* (Feb. 4th) @ Solar Kitchen: 11 am - 1 pm
❗️CONFIDENTIALITY GUARANTEED: YOUR NAME AND VOTE WILL BE KEPT A SECRET;
❗️SIGNING THE PETITION TO INITIATE THE EMERGENCY RESIDENTS' ASSEMBLY DECISION (RAD) IS NOT A VOTE, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU SUBMIT YOUR DECISION ONLINE OR IN PERSON.

2024-02-04 09:01:22

🔴 Emergency RA Decision-Making regarding *SELECTION OF THE WORKING COMMITTEE*: https://mailchi.mp/auroville/emergency-rad-wcom-selection-re4-nol-1001534

2024-02-03 07:57:08

❗️CONFIDENTIALITY GUARANTEED: YOUR NAME AND VOTE WILL BE KEPT A SECRET;
❗️SIGNING THE PETITION TO INITIATE THE EMERGENCY RESIDENTS' ASSEMBLY DECISION (RAD) IS NOT A VOTE, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU SUBMIT YOUR DECISION ONLINE OR IN PERSON.

2024-02-03 07:56:55

⏰ *2 DAYS LEFT!* Dear Residents, here’s a friendly reminder about the *Emergency RAD regarding selection of the Working Committee*
✅ *PARTICIPATE ONLINE*
Use your personalized voting link sent by the Residents' Assembly Service (RAS). If you didn't receive the link, please check spam or promotions folders. If still not there, kindly visit RAS polling stations.
✅ *PARTICIPATE IN PERSON*
We are happy to help you to register your decision:
*TODAY - SATURDAY* (Feb. 3rd) @ PTPS Aspiration: 11 am - 1 pm
*TODAY - SATURDAY* (Feb. 3rd) @ Solar Kitchen: 3 pm - 5 pm
*SUNDAY* (Feb. 4th) @ Solar Kitchen: 11 am - 1 pm

2024-02-03 07:56:36

RA WCom: Legal update
Dear community,
On 23rd January, the Madras High Court admitted three new cases, two of which were filed by us, and one of which was filed by an individual resident (who is a member of the Exit Review Group aka Termination Committee). These three cases challenge the recently gazetted Regulations about Admissions & Terminations and about the Selection of the Working Committee. The matter was heard briefly on 1st February and was adjourned for a second hearing, scheduled on 9th February.
In an open letter to a resident on 26th January, we clarified many misconceptions that exist about these court cases. You can read it here ( https://drive.google.com/file/d/1u-BSkaSAqCil5l3Dxd2FpzyatkqTP057/view?usp=sharing ).
Additionally, cases challenging the membership and legitimacy of the Secretary-appointed ‘TDC’ and those illegally impersonating the Working Committee were heard and debated at length on 29th and 30th January respectively. Follow-up hearings are scheduled on the 8th of February for the TDC case, and on the 22nd of February for the Working Committee quo-warranto case.
We will keep you updated on new information as and when available.
For now, we invite everyone to concentrate within so that these cases may bear a favourable outcome for Auroville.
In community,
Your RA Working Committee
Aravinda, Bharathy, Chali, Hemant, Maël (TOS), Sauro, Valli

2024-02-03 07:56:07

Dear community,
Here is the Tamil version of the video regarding the ongoing Emergency RAD process about the new Working Committee Regulations:
https://youtu.be/Q9jGa--GCts
More info on the RAD proposal and ways to participate can be found here:
https://mailchi.mp/auroville/emergency-rad-wcom-selection-nol-1001514
Thank you.
Together, for Auroville.
Concerned residents

2024-02-01 13:51:06

Request to inform RA WCom of any visa issues
Dear Community,
We are sending out this friendly reminder to all those who have had or are having difficulties getting a letter of recommendation for new visas or for extensions of existing visas.
Please inform us if you are a Newcomer or Aurovilian who:
- requested a letter but have not received it and your visa has expired;
- received a letter with a negative remark;
- received a letter for less duration than what you are eligible for (ie, one year instead of 5 years);
- any other issues you have faced in the application process for a visa recommendation letter or for the visa application process itself.
It is very important for us to have a record of this information so if you have not done so already, please write to workingcom@auroville.services or visit us during our open house time on Tuesday mornings from 10 to 12 at the old Koodam office (entrance and parking opposite the Auroville Library). Names and personal information will be held in confidence.
In service,
The Working Committee of the RA
Aravinda, Bharathy, Chali, Hemant, Mael (TOS), Sauro, Valli

2024-02-01 09:30:46

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/d366p7trmu8t69m78m6ov/N-N-No-1012-MOBILE-1-February-2024.pdf?rlkey=gjnqdkuo9u2uxv8xmgauq0mwj&dl=0

2024-02-01 05:07:58

❗️*CONFIDENTIALITY IS GUARANTEED*. THAT MEANS YOUR NAME AND VOTE WILL BE KEPT A SECRET;
❗️SIGNING THE *PETITION* TO INITIATE THE EMERGENCY RESIDENTS' ASSEMBLY DECISION (RAD) *IS NOT A VOTE*, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU SUBMIT YOUR DECISION ONLINE OR IN PERSON.

2024-02-01 05:07:38

✅ *PARTICIPATE ONLINE*
Use your personalized voting link sent by the Residents' Assembly Service (RAS). If you didn't receive the link, please check spam or promotions folders. If still not there, kindly visit RAS polling stations.
✅ *PARTICIPATE IN PERSON*
We are happy to help you to register your decision:
*TODAY - THURSDAY* (Feb. 1st) @ Solar Kitchen: 11 am - 1 pm
*SATURDAY* (Feb. 3rd) @ PTPS Aspiration: 11 am - 1 pm
*SATURDAY* (Feb. 3rd) @ Solar Kitchen: 3 pm - 5 pm
*SUNDAY* (Feb. 4th) @ Solar Kitchen: 11 am - 1 pm

2024-02-01 05:07:23

🔴 Here’s a friendly reminder about the ongoing *Emergency RAD* regarding *selection of the Working Committee*

2024-01-31 11:57:43

Emergency RAD Regarding selection of Working Committee
Dear community,
An Emergency RAD process about the new Working Committee Regulations is ongoing.
These regulations aim at giving full power to the Governing Board on choosing the membership and selection methodology for the Working Committee.
https://youtu.be/rL5X6mYB6xo
Please check out the attached video and participate in the ongoing emergency RAD.
More info on the RAD proposal and ways to participate can be found here:
https://mailchi.mp/auroville/emergency-rad-wcom-selection-nol-1001514
Thank you.
Together, for Auroville.
Concerned residents

2024-01-31 11:57:21

✅ *PARTICIPATE ONLINE*
Use your personalized voting link sent by the Residents' Assembly Service (RAS). If you didn't receive the link, please check spam or promotions folders. If still not there, kindly visit RAS polling stations.
✅ *PARTICIPATE IN PERSON*
We are happy to help you to register your decision:
*TODAY - TUESDAY* (Jan. 30th) @ Solar Kitchen: 11 am - 1 pm
THURSDAY (Feb. 1st) @ Solar Kitchen: 11 am - 1 pm
SATURDAY (Feb. 3rd) @ PTPS Aspiration: 11 am - 1 pm
SATURDAY (Feb. 3rd) @ Solar Kitchen: 3 pm - 5 pm
SUNDAY (Feb. 4th) @ Solar Kitchen: 11 am - 1 pm

2024-01-31 11:57:08

🔴 Emergency RA Decision-Making regarding SELECTION OF THE WORKING COMMITTEE:
https://mailchi.mp/auroville/emergency-rad-wcom-selection-nol-1001514

2024-01-28 09:24:18

AVSST: Announcement to the community
Dear Auroville residents,
We would like to inform you that on 19 January 2024, 5 out of 6 Aurovilian members of the Auroville Safety & Security Team (AVSST) received an email from the 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."... (Realignment of Work for Aurovilians). No grounds on which this decision was made by the BCC and GB FAMC were provided. One other Aurovilian AVSST member did not even receive any email from BCC, although from another communication thread from the 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.
Please find other relevant emergency numbers below:
- Auroville Ambulance Service: 9442224680
- PIMS: 0413-2656 271
- Farewell: 8903836246
- Vandrevala foundation - Mental health 24/7 support: +91 9999666555
- Auroville Dog Shelter: +91 8122225266
- Auroville Police Station: 0413 - 2677 318
- Kottakuppam Police Station: 0413 - 2236 148
- Fire Stations:
- Vanur: 0413 - 2677 368
- Kalapet: 0413 - 2655 873
- D. Nagar (near JIPMER): 0413 - 2272 913
- Sedarapet: 0413 - 2678 101
It has been an honor to have been of service to the Auroville community for all these years.
Sincerely,
Auroville Safety & Security Team

2024-01-27 13:31:47

https://image.nostr.build/4266c8b3c77e682ea7fa5677fa5d665d3eae775ac3528e8edfd7feb0901e52d1.jpg#m=image%2Fjpeg&dim=1080x1080&blurhash=UHExnM%7D%3AE2NI%7Dl%5Eg%3D_NInN%24z%251R%2BxCR%2BENWW&x=fcf56f4b694e18043a990040726d11403bc56975974ad234ad5e152ec74c5156

2024-01-26 16:51:00

RA WCom: Open Letter to Anandi about her 24th January post on Auronet
Dear Anandi,
We would like to clarify some of the misleading statements in your latest Auronet posting on 24th January 2024.
You are misrepresenting the situation for the following reasons:
1. The cases filed by us or other Aurovilians at the Madras High Court are not against the Government of India. The respondents are the Secretary and those Aurovilians who ignored the decision of the Residents' Assembly and falsely claimed to be the Working Committee. The cases are aimed at upholding the Residents' Assembly's functions as per the Auroville Foundation Act, a law unanimously voted by the Parliament of India in 1988. The latest developments as we have seen in Auroville are disregarding an Act of Parliament. Officers of the Auroville Foundation are not equated to the Government of India, although some are appointed by the Ministry of Education. They are employees of an autonomous body called the Auroville Foundation which consists of three statutory bodies: Residents' Assembly, Governing Board and International Advisory Council.
2. Cases about Auroville's governance started only after fabricated criminal cases were registered against three legitimate members of the Working Committee and three other Aurovilians, while they were simply trying to uphold the results of a Residents' Assembly Decision. It was necessary to take proper legal action so as to ensure that the residents' voices are upheld and protected.
3. Most members of our team and many Aurovilians who have expressed disagreement with the administration's current style are targeted with actions of retaliation and an intention to expel them from their home, from Auroville, and sometimes even from India. With your post, you seem to be explicitly supporting and even encouraging such actions of retaliation - do you realize this?
4. The Madras High Court in its order of 12th August 2022 established that the Governing Board, International Advisory Council, and Residents' Assembly should work in mutuality. In other words, in harmony. This judgement has been appealed by the Secretary. You talk of a "harmonious development of Auroville" but at the same time you support the people who are fighting in Court against the principles of Harmony and Collaboration. Is it not our duty to resist, in every way possible, when we see the founding principles of Auroville being violated, and in an unlawful manner?
5. You ask "who supports such actions", referring to the cases initiated by us. The answer is clear: we are acting under the authority of the Residents' Assembly as the Working Committee selected by it, and we have been striving to uphold its decisions and its functions as enshrined in the Auroville Foundation Act. Such decisions have seen the participation of hundreds of residents of Auroville, and in one case of almost 1200, the highest participation rates in Auroville's history.
6. A question can be made to you and the handful of people working in the groups constituted by the Governing Board and the Secretary's Office: who authorised you to silently approve or actively support the takeover of the community's daily life and the harassment of Aurovilians with threats to visas, cutting of maintenances, threats to places of work, threats to housing, and opaque and callous speculative land exchanges? How is this conducive to a "harmonious development of Auroville"?
We urge you to open your eyes and to withdraw from participating or silently supporting what has revealed itself to be a full takeover of Auroville for hidden agendas and private interests.
Auroville's existence as a living laboratory and creative experiment for the evolution of consciousness is under threat.
May those few individuals who are supporting the ongoing takeover, including yourself, realize what is really happening and withdraw their support before it is too late.
Auroville is unique in the world. It is a beacon of hope. This light is what we are standing for.
The Working Committee selected by the RA
Aravinda, Bharathy, Chali, Hemant, Sauro, Valli

2024-01-25 10:46:50

RA WCom: Hearing on cases about regulations recently published in the Gazette
Dear Community,
Yesterday, 23rd of January, the Hon'ble Madras High Court admitted two cases by the Working Committee and one by an Aurovilian resident against both sets of new regulations that were recently published in the Gazette of India by the Secretary to the Governing Board. The lawyer for the Foundation took notice of the cases and was served with papers by our lawyers. The matter has been posted for an early hearing on the 1st of February. Please find attached the relevant written order from the Hon'ble court.
We will keep you informed as things develop.
In faith,
The Working Committee of the RA
Aravinda, Bharathy, Chali, Hemant, Sauro, Valli

2024-01-25 10:46:10

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/4009m1avmneyck1dsl811/DailyOrder_Jan23-2024_WP-1468-2024.pdf?rlkey=pxiir70upvelxc0fcaf1cdohv&dl=0

2024-01-25 10:45:45

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/z588fpd4uf4mt73hdf0fv/N-N-No-1011-MOBILE-25-January-2024.pdf?rlkey=wsktlzx9rqccw4tfp6izf9jd2&dl=0

2024-01-23 17:31:12

*Total number of valid votes: 710*
*98.7% (701) participants voted in favour* of the above resolution.
*0.6% (4) participants rejected it.*
*0.7% (5) participants didn't know.*
Please follow the link for more details:
https://mailchi.mp/auroville/emergency-rad-atr-results-1001502

2024-01-23 17:30:40

🔴 *THE RESIDENTS' ASSEMBLY APPROVED FOLLOWING RESOLUTION:* The Residents' Assembly resolves that the new ‘Auroville Foundation (Admission and Termination of persons in the Register of Residents) Regulations, 2023’ published in the Gazette of India on the 4th of January, 2024, by the Secretary of the Governing Board, is an overreach by the Governing Board and usurps the powers given to the Residents’ Assembly as per the Foundation Act. Further, we state that the Residents’ Assembly, as one of the three statutory authorities of the Auroville Foundation, asserts its right to carry out its functions as detailed in the Auroville Foundation Act, with the purpose “to further development of Auroville in accordance with its original Charter” (first paragraph of the Auroville Foundation Act, 1988).

2024-01-22 12:19:39

RA WCom: GB regulations on Selection of the Working Committee
Dear Community,
Please find attached for your reference the latest regulations by the Governing Board regarding selection of the Working Committee, which were referred to in our announcement about this on the 18th of January. The English translation starts on page 10.
Sincerely,
The Working Committee of the RA
Aravinda, Bharathy, Chali, Hemant, Sauro, Valli
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/f1apl3szv1ermqymdlh1g/Notification-of-Working-Committee-Regulations-2024.pdf?rlkey=pdeagc5auvsyhqbxsfbj5dz46&dl=0

2024-01-22 12:18:05

🔴 *TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO PARTICIPATE!* Emergency RA Decision-Making on usurpation of the powers given to the Residents’ Assembly over admission and termination as per the Auroville Foundation Act:
https://mailchi.mp/auroville/emergency-rad-atr-re4-nol-1001494

2024-01-20 09:55:56

⚡️ [UPDATE] Call for an Emergency RAD on WCom Selection ⚡️
Dear Aurovilians,
We have already collected 360 signatures within 24 hours for the 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 RAS requires a minimum of 300 valid signatures to initiate an E-RAD on behalf of the Residents’ Assembly.
Although this has already been swiftly surpassed, you are still welcome to read the document and submit your signature to show your support.
https://forms.gle/73nTY9pqBEK4n2bJA
Meanwhile we will proceed to communicate with the RAS and update you on the progress.
Please note that this E-RAD has been initiated by residents and is a separate call from the ongoing E-RAD process which was recently initiated by the RA WCom.
Thank you for your active participation to these initiatives!
With love and hope,
Concerned Residents

2024-01-01 09:02:03

RA WCom: Report on the material development of Auroville and Dossiers on the ongoing takeover
Dear community,
We would like to share with you that, at our request, a team of resource people have been preparing a report called The Development of Auroville's Assets - Decades of Dedication by the Auroville Community.
This document offers a general overview of Auroville's material development and highlights some specific case-studies of this to date, across key areas.
It can be found at the following link: https://auroville.media/achievements/
In addition, over the past year and a half, three detailed Dossiers on the ongoing takeovers have been prepared by another team of resource people.
These three Dossiers each cover a specific topic, namely:
Dossier 1: Takeover of Auroville’s Internal Governance
Dossier 2: Censorship & Takeover of Communication Platforms
Dossier 3: Mismanagement of Auroville Assets & Finances, Natural & Human Resources
They can all be found at the following link: https://auroville.media/crisis/dossiers/
We would like to thank all those who worked on the compilation, write-up, editing and layout of these highly valuable documents.
This is shared with you for your information and as a matter of transparency.
Please feel free to circulate these documents widely.
In community,
Your RA Working Committee
Aravinda, Bharathy, Chali, Hemant, Sauro, Valli