Issue Nº426 – News in brief

The website of the Auroville Foundation mentions that retired Gujarat cadre IAS officer Shri Kuniyil Kailashnathan, the new Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, has been inducted as a member of the Governing Board of the Auroville Foundation. Mr Kailashnathan has held key positions in Gujarat, including that of Additional Chief Secretary to the then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi until 2013. He is considered to be one of the most trusted aides of Prime Minister Modi. His term of office will end on 5 October 2025.

According to an article in The Hindu, the establishment of an IIT Madras Research Park and a Centrally supported Innovation Hub were discussed in the 68th meeting of the Governing Board held in Auroville on 5 December. GB Chairman Dr. Ravi noted that “the establishment of a new IIT campus on Auroville land will foster research, education and new entrepreneurial initiatives, driving economic growth and social developments in the region.” The proposed Innovation Hub, supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology, would empower young innovators and entrepreneurs. In the Governing Board’s assessment, the Innovation Hub, with an allocation of Rs 2.5 crore from the Auroville Foundation and a matching contribution from NITI Aayog, would nurture creativity, foster job creation and contribute to the regions’ economic vitality. Other topics discussed were the formation of new committees, project approvals, land related matters approval and compliance issues in Auroville. The meeting was attended by Shri Kuniyil Kailashnathan, Shri Aravindan Neelakandan, Prof. Gautam Ghosal, Prof. R.S. Saraju, and Dr Nirima Oza, as well as by Dr Jayanthi Ravi, Secretary of the Auroville Foundation, stated the article.

In response to three Right to Information (RTI) requests, the Ministry of Education, Auroville’s nodal ministry, replied on 25 November 2024, that Dr Jayanti Ravi IAS had been appointed as Secretary of the Auroville Foundation for another term of one year with effect from 5 July 2024. However, on 2 August 2024, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet had approved a premature repatriation of Dr Ravi from the post of Secretary, Auroville Foundation, to her parent cadre, the Government of Gujarat, with immediate effect. The Ministry further replied that the RTI question whether Dr Ravi has been relieved from her duties as Secretary, Auroville Foundation or has been entrusted with any additional responsibilities regarding the Auroville Foundation “is under consideration”. The Ministry informed that it had on 5 November forwarded to the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions the RTI question whether there exists any Office Memorandum of the Central Government which permits a State Government employee/All India Service to simultaneously hold a substantial post under the Central Government, with the request to provide the information directly to the RTI applicant. On 20 December 2024, the Secretariat of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet of the Department of Personnel & Training of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, wrote that the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Department of Higher Education for entrustment of additional charge of the post of Secretary, Auroville Foundation to Dr (Smt.) Jayanthi S. Ravi, IAS (GJ:1991), presently in the Cadre, with immediate effect, for a period of one year, or till appointment of a regular incumbent to the post, whichever is earlier.

The Auroville Town Development Council constituted by the Governing Board (ATDC) informed the community through a mass bulletin on 25 December 2024 that Auroville is currently implementing its road network, which comprises the Crown, Radial Roads, and the Outer Ring Road, and that, consequently, all Red Assets connected to this project, i.e. structures located on the road or on the rights-of-way, will need to be demolished. The bulletin stated, “Many of you have already been relocated, or have been invited to interactions on the same with the Officer on Special Duty of the Auroville Foundation. If the house or asset occupied by you falls within the right-of-way of these roads, and you have not been contacted already to facilitate your move, we urge you to please contact relocation_avf@auroville.org.in at the earliest to arrange for alternate housing for yourself.” 

In the same mass bulletin, the ATDC announced that all fences within and between neighbouring communities will be removed. “This initiative seeks to manifest an open and walkable city, without any boundary demarcations, encouraging a more open and connected environment.” The removal will be carried out in a phased manner. The materials from the removed fences will be reused as necessary to reinforce or establish new fencing in areas requiring protection, such as green spaces or vulnerable boundaries. All fences are and will be treated as Auroville property and shall be reused/ removed/ recycled for public spaces. Cow protection will as much as possible be maintained at the peripheral entry points, however, preventing cows from entering extensive private gardens is not ATDC’s top priority. “Once Auroville as a city is fenced and gated, cow intrusion into gardens will phase out on its own,” wrote the ATDC.

Youth Centre and YouthLink’s annual end-of-year fair took place on 21 December, attracting a sizeable and enthusiastic crowd. The organisers of Fair and Square (as the event was called) focused their efforts on showcasing the Youth Centre space as a vibrant social centre – or town square – prominently located on the Crown road. Visitors were asked to reimagine the Youth Centre they would want to see five years from now. This was then harvested in the form of drawings, ideas, and suggestions for the Youth Centre and YouthLink teams to draw inspiration from in the coming years. Visitors were also treated to a 47 metre long zipline, a giant seesaw, a dunk tank and a crate stacking game. They could participate in a giant collective art project, screen-print a Free Store t-shirt with the commemorative Fair and Square design, or support the Youth Centre by buying t-shirts already printed with the unique artwork. At the Upcycling Studio stall, visitors made earrings or keychains from waste leather; at the Revelation Forest stall, visitors who matched plant leaves with the correct name won a free cup of juice; the Green Silk Road stall featured photos from the programme’s overland travel across Eurasia connecting people and regenerative projects; the Rainbow Collective exhibited the work of various community artists; and, as always, Johnny’s stall brewed free tea for one and all. Visitors commented on the strong show of Youth Centre vitality and Auroville community spirit, and many felt reinvigorated by the bustling event.

This was a year of uneven rains. No less than 8 months were rain-deficient, but the year was bookended by exceptional rains in January and December including, of course, an all-time record rain of 54 cm over the 24 hours of 30 November/1 December, courtesy of Cyclone Fengal. The total rainfall for the year of almost 195 cm was more than 39% higher than the average annual rainfall of approximately 140 cm (see figures below, recorded by Charlie at Evergreen).