Auroville greenlights key proposals across housing, sustainability and governance
The 69th meeting of the Governing Board (GB) of the Auroville Foundation convened by its chairman and Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi cleared the housing initiative, under the Line of Progress project in Sector 2 of the Residential Zone, which was proposed for inclusion under the Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) scheme, a press note said.
The GB also passed a resolution to establish a 'Sustainability Campus' through an MoU with IIT- Madras (signed in March, 2025) on a leased land in Auroville with the facility focusing on fostering global excellence in sustainable technologies, the note said.
The Governing Board, which reviewed key developments since its previous meeting in December 2024, also passed a resolution sanctioning 'Serviteurs Volontaires housing' proposal that envisaged a 100-bed housing facility for long-term volunteers and newcomers. This was aimed at addressing Auroville's acute shortage of high quality volunteer accommodation, the press note said.
The meeting was attended by K. Kailashnathan, Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, Sharat Chauhan, Chief Secretary, Madhu Bala Soni, Under Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Jayanti. S. Ravi, Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue, Gujarat and Secretary of the Auroville Foundation, Nirima Oza and R.S. Sarraju, Governing Board members, G. Seetharaman, Officer on Special Duty, Auroville Foundation, and Koshy Varghese, Visa Consultant of the Foundation. Governing Board members Aravindan Neelakandan and Goutam Ghosal participated online.
The other important proposals cleared by the Governing Board, included setting up of a 'Free Progress' school within Auroville, in line with The Mother and Sri Aurobindo's teachings on a new education model, and university-level programmes under the Sri Aurobindo International Institute of Educational Research (SAIIER) which would be established outside the Master Plan.
Approval was also granted for the construction of a dedicated security complex, including a Sakshi Kaksh (Master Control Room), in Auroville's Southern Service Node. The Board recorded its prior approval for the deployment of a 15-member CRPF personnel for a period of five years, to safeguard Auroville's development zones and uphold law and order.
The Board also approved a partnership with NBCC (India) Limited 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.
On the governance side, the Board ratified two new Standing Orders — the Code of Conduct for Business Units 2025, streamlining and regulating unit operations and the Framework for Functioning of the Residents' Assembly 2025, ensuring clarity and order in community governance.
As per the Admissions and Terminations Regulations 2023, the Board constituted an Appellate Committee to handle resident-related grievances.
The Board approved a significant land exchange transaction in the prime city area, enabling completion of Crown Road and other key urban infrastructure. It also mandated the formation of an Elders Committee, comprising long-standing residents, to safeguard and uphold the essence of Auroville's founding spirit.
Establishing Auroville Information Centres in major cities across the world and hosting international bi-annual conclave with members, honorary Aurovilians and Auroville goodwill ambassadors were other proposals to be cleared.
The Governing Board took note of 'significant judicial successes' that reaffirmed the Foundation's legal standing in as many as 24 writ petitions filed by some residents, especially the Supreme Court's dismissal of the NGT order that now cleared the path for Auroville's development as a model international township rooted in the vision of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother, the press note said.
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