| |
|
|
How did the Central Fund begin?
In the latter part of 1989 an Economy Study Group
was formed by the Auroville Council to study Auroville's economic situation
and to examine the financial and practical implications of a proposed
change of system. In a General Meeting on 20 March 1990, the Economy
Study Group presented its report to the community and made a series
of proposals for a change in Auroville's economy. The General Meeting
accepted the proposal to collectively support the monthly running expenses
of the Electrical Service, Water Service, Dental Centre, Health Centre,
Free Store and Pour Tous through a Central Fund and an Economy Task
Group was constituted to implement this decision. Five months later,
after gathering sufficient resources from within the community and taking
a leap in faith, a new chapter in the history of Auroville's economy
began on Sri Aurobindo's birthday, 15 August 1990.
How did the Central Fund begin?
In the latter part of 1989 an Economy Study Group
was formed by the Auroville Council to study Auroville's economic situation
and to examine the financial and practical implications of a proposed
change of system. In a General Meeting on 20 March 1990, the Economy
Study Group presented its report to the community and made a series
of proposals for a change in Auroville's economy. The General Meeting
accepted the proposal to collectively support the monthly running expenses
of the Electrical Service, Water Service, Dental Centre, Health Centre,
Free Store and Pour Tous through a Central Fund and an Economy Task
Group was constituted to implement this decision. Five months later,
after gathering sufficient resources from within the community and taking
a leap in faith, a new chapter in the history of Auroville's economy
began on Sri Aurobindo's birthday, 15 August 1990.
How has the Central Fund grown?
Since that time the Central Fund has grown considerably
in size, scope and income. In fact, the growth of the Central Fund has
been a reflection of Auroville's overall development and expansion.
Similarly, Auroville's internal resources have increased substantially
over the intervening years and more funds could be channeled through
the Central Fund to maintain Auroville's collective assets and carry
out essential community activities. In 1990, the Central Fund had a
total monthly budget of Rs 2.36 lakhs covering 20 services. In February
2003 the Central Fund distributed Rs 40 lakhs to more than 40 activities
and services, including education. Though it is important to note that
the present amount disbursed by the Central Fund is below that of the
actual requirements.
What are the sources of income to the Central Fund?
From the beginning, the Central Fund has relied
on a diversity of internal community resources such as income generated
from commercial units, which contribute varying percentages of their
profits; project contributions; contributions from guests and
guesthouses; donations from individual Aurovilians; and from interest
on pooled deposits with the Auroville Maintenance Fund. There is also
the much discussed scheme under which each unit contributes a minimum
amount monthly for each Aurovilian working in that unit or, which self-supporting
Aurovilians contribute. In 1990 this feature began as the Rs 200 scheme
and was later increased to Rs 300. In June 1996 the minimum amount requested
was raised from Rs 300 to Rs 750. This was done in order to preserve
the basic value of this contribution. In December 1998 there was an
increase of 20% up to Rs 900 and again in January 2000 there was an
increase of 10% up to Rs 1000 as adjustments for inflation with the
same reasoning in mind. In January 2001 there was an increase to Rs
1100, and in January 2002 an increase up to Rs 1200 to cover rising
costs. Whether a further increase will be proposed in 2003 remains to
be seen.
The form and exact figure of it need community approval and broad based
support.
How has the Central Fund changed the last years?
Over the past five years there has been a marked
shift in emphasis from giving support to the services to increasing
support to the individual with issues related to maintaining Aurovilians
receiving a great deal of attention. In a section entitled "Taking
care of our people", the mandate of the present Economy Group states
that, "In any organisation, people are the main resource. It is
probably true in even more crucial ways in the case of Auroville: the
'cradle of the superman' must manifest through willing servitors of
the Divine Consciousness. However remote the present Auroville may seem
to be from such future manifestations, the necessary emphasis on 'people'
is all the more crucial. Despite limited resources, we strive to create
the space and provide the means for each one to discover what they truly
need." The view was held that assisting a few, specifically identified
services to become self-supporting would not be an impediment to going
towards 'no exchange of money in Auroville' if truly collective ways
of maintaining Aurovilians could be developed. The designated services
would have the potential to become economically healthy and the funds
that had previously gone into subsidies would become available to better
maintain individuals. The Economy Group was aware of the risks involved
in the deeper implications and long-term consequences in taking what
appeared to be a step backwards. Any real progress in this area implies
a focused collective will to discover the methods and economic models
that embody the ideals of Auroville. A signal question is whether this
will is active.
|
