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| A glimpse from the Parliament of India (Source: Press Information Bureau, New Delhi) |
Appreciation for the contributions made by past Chairmen of Auroville Foundation Dr. Karan Singh and Dr. Kireet Joshi
The Committee’s review of Auroville Foundation under the Dept. of Higher Education tabled in Parliament on 8th December 2025 expressed its "appreciation for the contributions made by past Chairmen of the Foundation’s Governing Board, Dr Karan Singh and DrKireet Joshi, whose stewardship and steadfast commitment has led to the preservation and nurturing of the character and vision of Auroville".
Appreciations for the Unesco resolutions on Auroville
The Committee noted that the Unesco "has passed at least six resolutions since 1966 to celebrate Auroville’s ideals" and mentioned with satisfaction that the sixth Unesco resolution "explicitly appreciated the Government of India for passing the Auroville Foundation Act (1988) for the “purpose of protecting and encouraging the development of Auroville.”
The Auroville Foundation Act is for community governance rather than just institution management
The Committee noted that the Auroville Act (1988) is unique in that it governs a community, not just an institution. Referring to the Supreme Court judgement overturning the order of the Madras High Court First Bench quashing the appointment of the Auroville Town Development Council (ATDC), the committee said it respects the court’s view that the Governing Board of the Auroville Foundation was “supreme” [with regard to the Residents Assembly (RA) and the International Advisory Council (IAC)] but advised the Board to consult the RA and IAC, the other two bodies of the 3-part Auroville Foundation, and act in collaboration. Open consultations on issues concerning the residents had stopped in recent years – firstly with the RA and finally with the IAC.
The Committee emphasised that "the three institutions must work together in close coordination and harmony. The Governing Board should continue the practice of consultation and collaboration with the International Advisory Council and the Residents’ Assembly before making any key decisions. The Committee observes that the objectives of the Auroville Foundation and the ideals of human unity enshrined in the Charter of Auroville can only be pursued with such an environment of constructive engagement.”
RA is the only statutory body capable of representing the residents of Auroville
The Committee noted that “Auroville is meant to have an autonomous character and that an empowered Residents’ Assembly is critical to the same since it is the only statutory body capable of representing the residents of Auroville”.
The Committee has advised that “to settle disputes and act as a check on the Residents’ Assembly and ensure its continued representativeness, the Foundation may consider setting up a standing panel composed of former members of the Working Committee”.
Those distinguished by valuable service to Auroville must be appointed to the Governing Board
The govt. has not appointed a new Governing Board after the end of the tenure of the previous one headed by Shri R. N. Ravi, Governor of Tamil Nadu, in October. On this the report said, “The Committee emphasises the distinctive nature of Auroville as a community and the critical importance of the Governing Board as the administrative body that oversees the community. The Committee notes that the mandate of the incumbent Governing Board has expired as of 5th October 2025. The Committee emphasises the importance of reconstituting the Governing Board with immediacy upon the expiration of the Governing Board".
The Committee's report needs to be commended for observing something quite important but flouted in the previous appointments to the Governing Board. The report noted that “the Auroville Act specifically stipulates that members of the Board must have distinguished themselves by rendering “valuable service to Auroville” and “contributed significantly in activities that are being pursued or are envisaged to be promoted in Auroville, including activities relating to environment, afforestation, arts and crafts, industry, agriculture, humanities, sciences and integral yoga.”
Annapurna Farms is not to be disturbed for the proposed “sustainability campus”
On the issue of allotting lands of the Annapurna Farms for establishing a sustainability campus, the Committee noted that “the land for the campus is supposed to come at the expense of the Annapurna Farms currently existing at the location. Food sustainability is an integral part of the vision of Auroville, and the loss of farmland will certainly impact the long-term ability of Auroville to sustain itself. Further, Annapurna Farms is currently engaging in organic farming, which was central to The Mother’s vision for the community. The Committee recommends that Annapurna farms should not be disturbed and that alternative sites nearby should be found to situate the sustainability campus”.
“In the same vein, the Committee is of the view that all land transfers in service of the Master Plan should be implemented in full transparency and consultation with all stakeholders, including the Resident’s Assembly and the International Advisory Council”.
Implement the master plan in close consultation with the RA and other stakeholders
The Committee recommended that "the Master Plan be implemented in close consultation with the Resident’s Assembly and other stakeholders in Auroville, with changes as may be required. The Committee also notes that as per current regulations, all urban development master plans in the state of Tamil Nadu are to be submitted to the State Urban Planning Department. The Committee recommends that the Foundation do so as well in compliance with these regulations".
Any amendment of the Auroville Foundation Act 1988 and Rules 1997 should be developed through a consensual process
The Governing Board had approved a proposal to modify the Auroville Foundation Act 1988 some months ago. As it had become a routine practice by then, neither the RA nor the IAC was consulted. The residents at large were never asked to give their suggestions nor informed on what the proposal approved by the Board was.
The Committee has now recommended, "Any amendments to the Auroville Act or the Auroville Foundation Rules 1997 should be developed through a consensual process, with the unanimous support of all three statutory bodies – the Governing Board, the International Advisory Council, and the Resident’s Assembly". It also recommended the govt. to amend the Act to provide for recognition of Auroville as an Institution of National Importance.
Appoint a full-time secretary; avoid giving it on additional charge
In an apparent reference to the present Secretary, Smt Jayanti S. Ravi, who has been holding the post as an additional charge for the past one and a half years, after her original tenure ended, the Committee noted that "the Ministry has not designated an official as full-time Secretary of the Auroville Foundation, and that for over a year, the position is being held as an additional charge. The Committee’s general stance has been that the practice of assigning additional charges needs to be avoided, especially for long periods of time".
"The Committee recommends that the term of office of the Secretary to the Auroville Foundation should be made co-terminous with that of the Governing Board (i.e. four years). This will ensure better institutional continuity and coordination between the Governing Board and the administrative machinery of the Foundation."
The international character of Auroville is the very intent of Auroville
The Committee noted that the "international character of Auroville is not just a matter of pride but the very intent of Auroville, as evident in the founding Charter’s declaration that 'Auroville belongs to nobody in particular.'" The Committee emphasised that the Auroville Foundation’s role in the visa process must be speedy and independent of any considerations. It pointed out that the Honourable Prime Minister had noted in his visit to Auroville, "Anyone who is willingly in service of the Divine Consciousness is entitled to live in Auroville".