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What is the RAS?

The Residents' Assembly Service (RAS) is a service body of the Residents' Assembly in Auroville. The RAS's primary role is to empower Auroville residents by providing a platform for them to be heard and to support the Residents' Assembly in fulfilling its functions as detailed in the Auroville Foundation Act 1988.

​Responsibilities and Functions

  1. It is directly answerable to the Residents' Assembly alone and operates independently of other working groups and services.

  2. It maintains an unbiased position while working in close collaboration with the Auroville Council (though the Council does not interfere with its work).

  3. The RAS consists of 3-5 members who are selected through a specific process involving the Auroville Council and Working Committee.

  4. Its main functions include:

    • Convening and facilitating community decision-making processes (RAD)

    • Organization of selection processes for working groups

    • Helping residents find appropriate forums to address their concerns

    • Collecting and analysing data relevant to the Residents' Assembly

    • Facilitating communication between working groups and residents

  5. It collects, archives, organizes, and records all documents related to Residents' Assembly participatory processes.​

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Membership

Process of Selection:

  1. The Auroville Council initiates the process by making a public call to the community, specifying the criteria for appointment to the RAS.

  2. The Auroville Council, Working Committee of the Residents' Assembly (WCom), and existing RAS members together interview the applicants who respond to this call.

  3. Based on these interviews, the Council and WCom make a joint decision to select candidates.

  4. Those selected are then announced to the entire Auroville community, followed by a two-week feedback period during which community members can provide input.

  5. If any adverse feedback is received during this period, it is reviewed by the Council and WCom, who then interview the applicant(s) again before making a final decision.

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Requirements:

  • The majority of RAS members should preferably have been residents of Auroville for at least 5 years

  • New members undergo a 3-month trial period

  • RAS members serve a term of 3 years, after which they may be re-selected through the same process

  • RAS members must not simultaneously be members of any major working group

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Contact RAS

Topic

IF YOU WANT TO GO FAST, GO ALONE. IF YOU WANT TO GO FAR, GO TOGETHER

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Residents' Assembly Service (RAS) is a Section 19 Committee of the Residents' Assembly of the Auroville Foundation

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