Issue Nº423 – News in brief

On September 17th, at the occasion of the pre-full moon, the Matrimandir executives organised a ‘confluence’ in the Peace Area of the Matrimandir Gardens, inviting Aurovilians, Newcomers and friends to a Coming Together in a consecrated atmosphere in silence, sound contemplation, walking, observing, listening, with simple offerings of flowers and candles under the Banyan Tree. There were flower decorations in the Garden of Unity, the installation of Mother’s symbol in 36 languages, there were soundscapes in the Garden of the Unexpected, and children offered Sanskrit chants in the Stone Circle. After live music in the Amphitheater, there was silence, flowers and candles.

Still no news has been communicated to the Auroville community about who will replace the former Secretary to the Auroville Foundation, Dr. Jayanti Ravi, whose term of office ended on July 4th, and who was appointed Additional Chief Secretary in the Government of Gujarat on July 31st, 2024. The office of the Auroville Foundation has meanwhile published a recruitment notification for the three deputy secretaries, e.g. Deputy Secretary (Security), Deputy Secretary (Accounts and Audit), and Deputy Secretary (Administration) and for the post of Under Secretary. The notice stated that applications have to be sent on or before October 4th to the Secretary, Auroville Foundation.

The Government of India has approved the Auroville Foundation as ‘Other Institution’ for Research in Social Science or Statistical Research for the purposes of clause (iii) of sub-section (1) of section 35 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. This section of the Income Tax act allows donors to deduct the full amount of their donation to the Auroville Foundation from their taxable income. The notification is valid from the financial years 2024-25 to 2029-2030. To obtain the approval, around 45 Social Science and Statistical Research documents in compliance with CBDT’s strict parameters and conditions were submitted to the office of the Auroville Foundation. The office stated that it is important that each unit, activity, and project, does research in the areas of social science or statistics to continue the exemption in future.

Concerned residents have submitted a petition to the Working Committee of the Residents’ Assembly (RA-Wcom), signed by 540 Aurovilians, regarding recent decisions made by the FAMC appointed by the Governing Board (GB-FAMC). The petition received the support of 527 Aurovilians, 8 Newcomers and 5 Auroville youngsters; one person did not support the petition. The petition condemned “the continuous arbitrary decision-making being done by the persons appointed by the Governing Board as the ‘FAMC’ in taking over assets (both tangible and intangible) created by the Auroville Community; the dismissal of three Aurovilians as executives of Afsaneh’s Guesthouse; and the dismissal of an executive of the Pour Tous Purchasing Service. The petition stated that the residents calling themselves the ‘FAMC’ do not enjoy the confidence of the Residents’ Assembly; that no valid reasons for these decisions have been given; that the principles of natural justice had not been followed; and that no proper process for dismissal of managers and executives as defined in the Code of Conduct (CoC), 2017, has been followed. The petitioners also object to the GB-FAMC’s policy of extracting monthly contributions from [foreign] Aurovilians in order to get a ‘no dues certificate’ to apply for a visa, which, said the petitioners, can be considered as blackmail, extortion and/or a bribe, is creating hardship and bad will, and is discriminatory. Also the GB-FAMC’s policy of no longer honouring previous waivers and imposing payment of community contribution dating years prior to the newly created policy was objected to. The petitioners called for an immediate halt to these actions and reversal of these decisions.

On behalf of the RA-WCom, a legal notice has been served to the GB-FAMC. Taking into account all the facts, the RA-WCom directs the GB-FAMC (1) to immediately cease dealing with and conspiring with imposters posing as the Working Committee of the Residents’ Assembly of Auroville in contempt of the orders of the Madras High Court; (2) to immediately cease and desist from making any changes to the executives/trustees/managers of the units and Trusts of Auroville without the written and express approval of the Working Committee of the Residents’ Assembly till final decisions have been given in the matters pending before the Madras High Court; and (3) to take necessary steps to restore all maintenance support that was being given from community generated funds to those working in community services and groups selected by the community.

The RA-WCom shared with the community a legal opinion regarding the current status of the Working Committee of the Residents’ Assembly. The opinion, after considering the various facts of the matter, concluded that “there is and can only be one Working Committee of the Residents’ Assembly, and no body of persons without the mandate of the Residents’ Assembly can claim to be the Working Committee of the Residents’ Assembly”.

The RA-WCom shared with the community a legal opinion on the functioning and validity of the “Admissions Committee” (also known as “Entry Board”) constituted by the Residents’ Assembly under the Auroville Foundation (Admission and Termination of Persons in the Register of Residents) Regulations 2020 (“2020 Regulations”) in the light of the enactment of the Auroville Foundation (Admission and Termination of Persons in the Register of Residents) Regulations 2023 and the stay granted against the same by the Madras High Court via order dated on 23.2.2024. The opinion concluded that the Admissions Committee selected by the Residents Assembly can continue to function under the 2020 Regulations subject to any further or other orders passed by the Hon’ble Madras High Court.

The RA-WCom informed the community that, after the road accident that tragically took the life of a young volunteer at the road curve near Evergreen, it has approached the relevant authorities to urge them to put in place safety measures and ensure that the speed breakers that have recently been re-installed are adequately marked.