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The Governing Board consists of seven members to be nominated by the Central Government from amongst persons who have, rendered valuable service to Auroville; dedicated themselves to the ideals of life-long education synthesis of material and spiritual researches or human unity; contributed significantly in activities that are being pursued or are envisaged to be promoted in Auroville, including activities relating to the environment, afforestation, arts and crafts, industry, agriculture, humanities, sciences and integral yoga; and of two representatives of the Central Government itself. The members, who do not live in Auroville, hold office for a period of 4 years. The Governing Board meets at least twice a year in Auroville. The general management of the affairs of the Foundation is vested in the Governing Board. Its task is to promote the ideals of Auroville, to review and approve basic policies and programmes, to secure the proper management of all properties, to prepare the master plan and co-ordinate fundraising. Most of these functions are executed in consultation with the Residents' Assembly.

The Governing Board consists of nine members nominated by the Central Government. The previous Governing Board, constituted on 6^th September 2004, completed its 4-year term on 5^th September 2008. The present Board was constituted on 29^th October 2008 by Ministry of Human Resource Development, vide Notification No.F.27-9/2008-UU dated 29.10.2008, with the following members:.  

 

Dr. Karan Singh                                                                           Chairman

Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) &

President, Indian Council for Cultural Relations

 

Shri Ajoy Bagchi                                                                          Member

Executive Director, The People’s Commission

on Environment & Development India, New Delhi

 

Ms. Ameeta Mehra                                                                   Member

Director, The Gnostic Centre, Gurgaon

 

Dr. (Ms.) Aster Mira Patel                                                        Member

Member, Residents’Assembly

Auroville Foundation, Auroville              

 

Shri Balkrishna V.Doshi                                                             Member

Founder-Director, Vastu Shilpa Foundation,

Ahmedabad

 

Dr. (Ms.) Malini Parthasarthy                                                  Member

Executive Editor, “The Hindu “

Chennai

 

Dr. (Ms.) Mallika Sarabhai                                                      Member

Director, Darpana Academy of Performing Arts

Ahmedabad

 

Shri S.K. Ray                                                                                  Ex-Officio Member

Additional Secretary & Financial Adviser,

Ministry of Human Resource Development

New Delhi     

 

Shri Amit Khare                                                                            Ex-Officio Member

Joint Secretary, Department of Higher Education

Ministry of Human Resource Development

New Delhi

 

The Governing Board had decided to meet a minimum of twice in a year with one of its meetings being held in Auroville. During the period, 1^st April - 5^th September 2008, the Governing Board met once on 26^th July 2008.  The present Governing Board was not able to meet during the period 29^th October 2008 - 31st March 2009.

Since its inception in September 2004, the present Governing Board, under the leadership of its Chairman, Dr Karan Singh, has been exploring the ways and means of enlarging, within the framework of the Auroville Foundation Act, 1988, the role of the Residents’ Assembly, through its Working Committee, in the growth and development of Auroville.  Inter alia, the Governing Board decided  to entrust the Working Committee of the Residents’ Assembly with the responsibility for initiating project proposals for developing Auroville’s  infrastructure that are to be funded by the Central Government’s  Five Year Plan grants.

Chairman and the Governing Board had also decided to install a statue of Sri Aurobindo within Auroville Township as well as within the campus of UNESCO’s headquarters at Paris. A more than life-size and imposing statue was sculpted by a group of sculptors coordinated by the Puducherry-based art connoisseur, Shri Lalit Verma. It  was installed within the campus of Savitri Bhavan on 28^th February 2008, the 40^th anniversary of the founding of Auroville. The statue in Paris is likely to be installed in near future.