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Introduction: This mandate represents a
synthesis of input from the present and previous Entry groups.
Entry Group membership
MEMBERS volunteer, or are nominated and are
ratified by the Residents Assembly. The term is three years. If a member
wishes to continue after the term he must be re-ratified by the
Residents Assembly. The members are committed to regular attendance at
meetings, to Mothers guidelines in their own lives, and working as a
group. Their decisions are group decisions and the group stands
responsible for them, and keeps accurate records of them. All members
must observe discretion about the information entrusted to them.
The present Entry group has been set up into three
sub-groups:
1) Administration/office
The function of this office is to receive and
inform people who are interested in joining Auroville, and to do all the
required administrative work such as correspondence, processing
applications, and requesting recommendation letters from the Auroville
Foundation, as well as to interview new applicants in conjunction with
the Core Group. The Administration also acts as a coordination body for
the Core Group and Contact Persons.
2) Core Group
The Core Group consists of five or more
Aurovilians who act as an overview body. The functions of the Core Group
are to review all the information and feedback coming from the
Administration, the Contact people, the educational program staff and
the community at large and it is they who decide on Aurovilian status (
See below: Current policy of admission to Residents Assembly). The Core
Group can be called upon to review and settle "problem cases"
or conflict situations, and be a reference body for the Newcomer and the
Contact person in case of difficulties. Members of the Core Group must
have lived in Auroville for at least five years.
3) Contact work
Contact persons are a pool of Aurovilian who have
volunteered to help facilitate one or more Newcomers to integrate
smoothly into the Auroville community during their Newcomer period. The
Administration and Core Group selects a Contact Person for each Newcomer
based on language and affinities or needs. The task of a Contact Person
is to interact with the Newcomer and provide guidance and assistance, in
the light of the aims of Auroville, when and where needed. The Contact
Person acts also as a link between the Core Group and the Newcomer
providing quarterly updates on the Newcomers progress in integrating
into the community and on any changes in the workplace or residence.
The Newcomer process
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Any person who is interested to join Auroville
is requested to stay as a guest for a minimum period of three
months. During this time, the guest may explore the community life
by observing and/or participating in various activities, projects
and services.
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If, during this time, the decision is made to
join Auroville, an interview with the Entry Group is scheduled.
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The Administration and the Core Group hold
this interview. If the applicant potentially fulfills the criteria
for admission, (See below: Current policy of admission to Residents
Assembly) a recommendation letter is requested from the Secretary of
the Auroville Foundation to the appropriate Indian Consulate for the
issuance an Entry Visa. Foreign Nationals must return to their
country of origin or residence to obtain this visa.
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Foreign Nationals who have returned with an
Entry Visa, and accepted Indian Nationals will be announced in the
Auroville News, and after two weeks, if no negative feedback is
received, a Contact Person is assigned and the Newcomer period
officially begins.
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Copies of the "Joining Auroville"
brochure and the Newcomer Guidelines are given to the Newcomer,
where all the current policies on housing, finances, and work are
clearly spelled out.
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The Newcomer period lasts for two years.
Newcomers are encouraged to take up a work that is useful to the
community for at least five hours a day. It is stressed that it is
also important to spend time to become familiar with all the various
aspects of Auroville, to join in various collective activities, open
community meetings and other gatherings, as well as in the new
economy experiments that are presently underway, and to learn the
languages that are spoken here. Starting a new undertaking during
this period - be it a service, commercial unit or an independent
project - is only allowed with permission of the Entry Group.
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It is expected that the Newcomer will remain
in Auroville throughout the Newcomer period. Exceptions can be made
in the case of an emergency or different life situations which
require periodical absences, but it is required that at least one
full year is spent continuously in Auroville.
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At the end of the Newcomer period, the Core
Group interviews the Newcomer. If all the criteria for acceptance
are met, the Newcomer is announced in the Auroville News, and after
two weeks, if no negative feedback is received, the Newcomer is
entered in the Master List and becomes a member of the Residents
Assembly. If the person fails to integrate after the two-year
period, he may be asked to leave the community for a minimum of two
years before applying again, or, in some cases, the Newcomer period
could be extended for observation.
CURRENT POLICY OF ADMISSION TO RESIDENTS ASSEMBLY
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After the Newcomer has terminated the two year
period of integration into Auroville, the Core Group evaluates and
assesses each case based on the following criteria:
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The dedication to realize the Ideals of the
Auroville Charter
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Willingness to offer ones energies and talents
and the ability to sustain oneself by this offering
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Integration into the community
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Personal life, work and economy in harmony
with the guidelines formulated in the "Joining Auroville"
booklet
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Efforts made to learn more about the Integral
Yoga of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother, participation in classes and
study circles
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Interest and respect for the local culture and
customs
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Positive feedback from the workplace,
residential community and the community at large
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No involvement in politics, gangs, and
violence or sectarian association
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No involvement in court cases in India or
abroad
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Children who are joining Auroville,
accompanied by only one biological parent, require an official
statement from the absent parent stating that they have No Objection
that the child resides in Auroville
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(Due to Auroville's present housing situation,
in addition to fulfilling the above criteria, only those who have
the resources to build or purchase living quarters, or who receive
or share an existing dwelling on a permanent basis, can join the
community.)
Current policy for returning Aurovilians
Aurovilians who have left Auroville for more than
five years are removed from the Master List. Aurovilians coming back to
Auroville after a period of five years are announced in the AV News as
Returning Aurovilians.
Six months after they have returned to Auroville,
they are again announced in the Auroville News as a Returned Aurovilian,
and after two weeks, if no negative feedback has been received they are
re-entered on to the Master List.
Unless arrangements have been made with the
Housing group, all rights and claims to living quarters are lost after
an absence of five years.
March 2002
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