Decision on Emergency RAD Powers and Working Committee Functions

Overview

The Auroville Residents' Assembly conducted an Emergency RAD (Residents' Assembly Decision-making) process in August 2023 on two critical proposals addressing community governance during what were characterized as "exceptional circumstances." The vote established new emergency powers for community decision-making and granted expanded functions to the Working Committee.

Participation and Results

• Total participants for Proposal 1: 409 registered residents

• Total participants for Proposal 2: 405 registered residents

• Quorum requirement: 10% of eligible residents (236 votes required)

• Total eligible voters: 2,355 confirmed Aurovilians (as of August 2023)

• Outcome: Both proposals were overwhelmingly approved

The Decisions

Proposal 1: Emergency RAD by Residents' Assembly

Result: APPROVED with 98% support (402 votes in favor, 3 against, 4 abstentions)

The approved decision establishes: "The Residents' Assembly of Auroville (RA) is empowered to call for an Emergency Residents' Assembly Decision (RAD). Therefore, any petition signed by 300 residents may proceed to an Emergency RAD as outlined in the Residents' Assembly Decision-Making Policy document (October 2021)."

Proposal 2: Emergency Functions to Working Committee

Result: APPROVED with 93% support (376 votes in favor, 19 against, 10 abstentions)

The approved decision grants emergency powers for six months to the RA Working Committee (Aravinda Maheshwari, Illayabharathy Somasundaram, Chali Grinnell, Hemant Lamba, Maël Shanti Vidal, Sauro Mezzetti, Valli Senthilkumar) to appoint, replace, or add members to various organizational groups.

What These Decisions Mean

The approved emergency measures fundamentally change how Auroville operates during what the community has defined as "exceptional circumstances" - described as situations where "the IAC, GB, its Secretary and its groups and Committees act with disregard and/or hostility towards the Residents Assembly and its functions under the Auroville Foundation Act (1988) Section 19."

The approved emergency process includes these key components:

• A petition that receives 300 resident signatures (previously required Working Committee ) are can trigger an Emergency RAD. Previously, Emergency RADs could only be called by the Working Committee.

• The named RA Working Committee members can now directly appoint members to critical organizational bodies including:

  • Funds and Assets Management Committee

  • Town Development Council

  • Land Board

  • Entry Board

  • Housing Board

  • Budget Coordination Committee

  • Entry and Exit committees

• The Working Committee can act swiftly to fill organizational gaps without lengthy selection processes, with appointments serving up to 18 months

• Unanimous agreement required among Working Committee members, 3-day community feedback periods for nominations, and automatic dissolution if the Working Committee composition changes significantly

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These changes enable the Residents' Assembly to maintain essential community functions and respond quickly to governance challenges while preserving community input through the emergency RAD process and feedback mechanisms.