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Expressing serious concern over the communication of the Auroville Foundation Office dated 5th September 2026 directing the residents of Annapurna Farms to vacate the premises within 10 days, Shri Mukul Wasnik, Chairman, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth & Sports, has requested the intervention of the Ministry of Education to direct the Auroville Foundation to withdraw/keep in abeyance the said communication.
The Committee, in its report tabled in Parliament on 8th December 1925, had recommended that "Annapurna Farms should not be disturbed and alternative sites nearby should be found to situate the sustainability campus". The Chairman's letter observes that "once the committee has examined this specific issue and made a clear recommendation to preserve Annapurna Farms, it would be unfair for an agency under the administrative oversight of the Ministry to take steps that appear to disregard that recommendation".
Among other directions requested by the Chairman are
1. obtaining a "detailed report from the Auroville Foundation explaining the circumstances in which the eviction notices were issued including the authority under which they were issued and the proposed purpose for the land".
2. ensuring that "any future decisions concerning land transfers in Auroville are undertaken in full transparency and consultation with all stakeholders as recommended by the Parliamentary Committee.
Parliamentary standing committees are authorised to carry out 'on-the-spot' study visits of various institutions and establishments connected to the concerned departments, and the minister concerned shall make once in six months a statement in the House regarding the status of implementation of recommendations contained in the Reports of Departmentally Related Standing Committee of Lok Sabha with regard to her/his Ministry.
Shri Digvijaya Singh, former M.P. of Rajya Sabha and Chairman of the committee, demitted office on 21st June 2026 after completing his tenure as Chairman. The present chairman, who has replaced him, is also a Rajya Sabha M.P.
Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, who was the previous minister of education, was replaced by Shri Pralhad Joshi, the current minister, in July 2026.
Source:
1. AV Mass Bulletin (auroville.services)
2. Parliamentary Affairs, Exclusive News Portal of Parliamentary and Legislative Development
3. https://sansad.in/ls/committee/departmentally-related-standing-committees
Image: For representational purpose, from <a href="https://www.vecteezy.com/free-photos/aerial-view">Aerial View Stock photos by Vecteezy</a>
Copy of the Chairman's letter to Secretary, Ministry of Education - 1st part
Copy of the Chairman's letter to Secretary, Ministry of Education - 2nd part