News & Notes 846:Auroville Council Report July, August and Sept 2020
Entity::Auroville Council Report July, August and Sept 2020
Internal Functioning: The council in its new formation went through an intense team building process with weekly sessions over a two months span. The process was held by Elisa and Suryamayi. Besides team dynamics including conflict management, it also taught us how to efficiently work together.
Resignation of two Council members: Dan and Siv resigned and standby members, Jayamurthy (La Ferme) and Anbu (Windarra) replaced them at the end of September. Anbu has since resigned.
Collaboration with Koodam: Koodam offered a series of learning sessions to the Council on the Conflict Resolution Policy. This included a diving into the policy as well as discussions on how to work together.
Coordination and collaboration with Mattram: The Council is continuing to meet regularly with Mattram to address common topics on mental wellness. There is work in progress with regard to caring for seniors with mental and other challenges. Additional efforts are being made to offer creative activities and social gatherings called “Hangout” for seniors. A survey has been conducted to organize activities that would be beneficial, enriching and entertaining to the aging population in Auroville. There is also ongoing work with Mattram in regard to counseling for people in debt. An awareness program is being prepared for Aurovilians and local employees that could bring a better understanding of the risks involved in taking loans at high interests, popularly in the form of Chit Funds.
People in Debt: The Council continues extending counselling and support in modest ways to people that are struggling with debt repayment & debt management, due to their involvement in Chit Funds and fast money-making schemes.
Selection Process: The Council has been marginally involved in the final preparation of the Selection process models presented to the community after the meetings in June when the process was rekindled.
MM Selection Process: The selection process for 3 new executives has been prepared and will soon be communicated. Simultaneously Matrimandir Executives asked the Council to look into the creation of a Design Evaluation Panel. In a collaborative effort with MM executives the form for the panel has taken shape. This panel will consist of 4 Aurovilians. We hope to soon present the proposal to the Community.
Auronet guidelines: After publishing the guidelines and harvesting a lot of feedback, the Council together with the Working Committee has studied and integrated the feedback. The document will be going for a RAD process.
Appeals: The Council received the outcome of few appeals which could be found on the following link – https://auroville.org.in/article/81570
Arbitrations: Sanjana: in process, presently all needed financial data are being collected.
Youth Center: In a meeting in February 2020 with the Youth Centre it was decided to look for some Aurovilians that would form a YC support group in order to help and support the YC in challenging situations and would act as liaison and possibly also in decision making processes. This group is now created. A mission statement and a set of guidelines for the Youth Center are being drafted.
Music and Noise: The Youth Center residents have been requested to respect the needs of Aurovilians living in the neighborhood and not play loud music after 10PM. They have agreed to initiate friendly conversations with neighbors and notify them when they intend to have a party.
African Pavilion: The new management used the quiet summer time to further clean up the premises and to do some gardening. Some unresolved issues in regard to projects started by the previous management team have come up and are being addressed. For this a new Africa Pavilion support team has been formed.
Dog Breeding / Dogs to be vaccinated / Pitbull: Again, in the last months there have been incidents with dogs attacking Aurovilians and outsiders at various places in Auroville. We urge all people who hold dogs, be it a watchdog, domesticated stray or a pet, to vaccinate their animals and to maintain a vaccination booklet that can be demonstrated in the unfortunate event of an incident/bite. We request all veterinary doctors, both Aurovilians and vicinity to follow this as it is stipulated in their professional protocol. Dog holders are fully responsible and liable for the behavior of their dogs. They have to sustain or refund the cost of post exposure rabies vaccination and any damage caused. Please also neuter your dogs, males and females, so that we may have a chance in coping with the ever-multiplying dog population in Auroville. Be aware that dangerous breeds like Pit Bulls and Rottweilers should not be bred, sold and distributed in Auroville. These dogs, if not well trained and carefully attended to, tend to become a menace for humans and other animals.
Discipline Community: The FAMC met with challenges in creating a Selection Panel for the selection of a new steward for Discipline Farm due to interference from various sides. During summer the Council has been called numerous times to resolve smaller or bigger conflicts. Only when there is clarity on the new farm management can meaningful efforts on building peace between Discipline residents and farm be initiated.
New Creation: The Council had to deal with an issue related to an asset that is part of the Child Development Program and had been given/ used as accommodation. The issue is slowly being resolved. Housing has offered to the party staying in that particular part of the building another accommodation elsewhere in AV. Presently they are still staying in the NC CDP living quarter.
Hearing Aurovilians: The Council receives grievances of all kinds. After offering a hearing to the concerned individual or party an effort is made to indicate who (which Auroville Working Group or Activity) to address, or what actions could help and resolve the issue.