The 69^th meeting of the Governing Board of the Auroville Foundation was held on 08 July 2025 in hybrid mode at the Auroville Foundation Bhavan. Chaired by the Governor of Tamilnadu and Chairman to the Governing Board, Shri R.N. Ravi, the meeting marked a critical milestone in Auroville’s ongoing development as a model international township rooted in the vision of Sri Aurobindo and the mother. Amongst the esteemed members were present physically the LG of Puducherry Shri K. Kailashnathan, Dr. Nirima Oza, Prof. R. S. Sarraju, Smt. Madhu Bala Soni, Dr. Jayanti. S. Ravi, Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue, Gujarat and Secretary of the Auroville Foundation and Dr. G. Seetharaman, Officer on Special Duty, Auroville Foundation, and Mr. Koshy Varghese, Visa Consultant, Auroville Foundation. Members who joined online include Shri Aravindan Neelakandan & Prof. Goutam Ghosal.

The Board reviewed key developments since its previous meeting in December 2024 and passed several major resolutions. Highlights of the meeting include:

Strategic Infrastructure and Urban Development

● Line of Progress project approved: The Governing Board approved the first phase of a 1000-bed residential complex to house 380 individuals under the Line of Progress project in Sector 2 of the Residential Zone. This project is proposed to be included under the Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) scheme.

● Serviteurs Volontaires housing: A 100-bed housing facility for long-term volunteers and newcomers was sanctioned to address Auroville’s acute shortage of high-quality volunteer accommodation.

● Security Infrastructure upgrade: Approval was granted for the construction of a dedicated security complex, including a Sakshi Kaksh (Master Control Room), in Auroville’s Southern Service Node.

● NBCC Housing & Retail Complex: The Board approved a partnership with NBCC (India) Ltd to construct a residential-commercial project outside the Master Plan for well-wishers and devotees, ensuring long-term financial sustainability through a profit-sharing model.

 

MoU with IIT Madras

The Governing Board signed a landmark MoU with IIT Madras for the establishment of a “Sustainability Campus” on leased land in Auroville, focusing on global excellence in sustainable technologies.

Education & Culture

● Sri Aurobindo Integral Multiversity: A proposal for a 1000-student university campus with academic, sports, and residential infrastructure was placed before the Board for inclusion under the HEFA scheme.

● Approval for Integral School and Higher Education Programs under SAIIER: The Board cleared the path for starting a “Free Progress” school within Auroville, in line with The Mother & Sri Aurobindo’s teachings on a new education model, and university-level programs under the Sri Aurobindo International Institute of Educational Research which will be established outside the Master Plan.

Governance, Regulation, and Oversight

● Standing Orders approved: The Board ratified two new Standing Orders: 1. Code of Conduct for Business Units 2025, streamlining and regulating unit operations.

2. Framework for Functioning of the Residents’ Assembly 2025, ensuring clarity and order in community governance.

● Formation of Appellate Committee: As per the Admissions & Terminations Regulations 2023, the Board constituted an Appellate Committee to handle resident-related grievances.

● New Statuses Formalized: The statuses of Auro Mitra and Auro Hiteshi were officially approved to offer pathways for close collaborators and well-wishers of Auroville to remain connected with its vision and activities. Additionally, members for each of these statutes, including members for Honorary Aurovilians and Auroville Goodwill Ambassadors, were deliberated upon. Further the possibility of hosting an international bi-annual conclave with all these members, with the Auroville Information Centers, to be set up around the world in all major cities, joining the conclave remotely or hosting their own, was also discussed and approved.

● Elders Committee: The Board has mandated the formation of an Elders Committee, composed of long-standing residents, to help safeguard and uphold the essence of Auroville’s founding spirit. As the community aspires toward both individual excellence and collective unity, the Elders Committee will serve as a guiding presence to ensure that the deeper values and vision of Auroville remain vibrant and alive in our journey toward a collective realization.

 

Land, Legal, and Administrative Matters

● Land Purchase and Exchange: The Board approved a significant land exchange transaction in the prime city area, enabling completion of Crown Road and other key urban infrastructure.

● Deployment of CRPF Personnel: The Board recorded its prior approval for the deployment of a 15-member CRPF for a period of five years, to safeguard Auroville’s development zones and uphold law and order.

● Legal & Financial Compliance: ○ The Governing Board took note of significant judicial successes that reaffirmed the legal standing of the Auroville Foundation. It was observed that nearly 24 Writ Petitions, largely frivolous in nature and filed by a few Residents, have now been mostly disposed of in favor of the Foundation.

○ Among the most prominent legal victories:

■ The Supreme Court’s dismissal of the NGT order, clearing the path for Auroville’s implementation.

■ The upholding of the ATDC Standing Order by the Supreme Court, reaffirming the Foundation’s authority to regulate Auroville administration through Standing Orders.

■ A key Madras High Court ruling validating the legality of land exchanges conducted by the Foundation between 2021 and 2024.

 

○ Launch of IT and Cybersecurity Audit of Auroville Financial Services.

○ Appointment of external Chartered Accountant firms for complete digitization and streamlining of accounting processes across Auroville units.

 

Working Groups Present Strategic Reviews

In addition to these discussions, members of key working groups - including the Working Committee, Funds & Assets Management Committee (FAMC), Auroville Town Development Council (ATDC), and the Admissions & Terminations Scrutinizing Committee (ATSC) - presented their progress reports and future proposals before the Governing Board.

The Board engaged in in-depth deliberations on various matters presented and offered guidance and feedback for upcoming initiatives in areas such as infrastructure, planning, land acquisition, legal compliance, admissions oversight, and financial management.

This meeting marks a renewed commitment to Auroville’s foundational vision as articulated in its Charter, with a focus on urban development, transparency, legal compliance, and educational excellence. The Foundation reaffirmed that Auroville remains a space for international collaboration, collective evolution, and experimental research into a better future for all humanity and the world.

 

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