Lack of transparency and due process in public works by Auroville Foundation Secretariat

On 9th March at around 4 pm, a few Auroville residents claiming to be members of the Auroville Town Development Council (ATDC) of the Governing Board of the Auroville Foundation, along with 2 local hired workers, appeared at Darkali Park in Auroville with chainsaws and started cutting trees. 

When other Auroville residents went on site to ask for information about who the contract had been awarded to after the public tender deadline expired on the 3rd of March, as well as the work order and other public information that is required to be provided for such works, they were met with physical and verbal aggression, with women being slapped and manhandled. All this was being done by members claiming to represent the Secretary of Auroville and while dangerous chainsaws were left running, which is either criminal negligence or an intent to cause harm. 

Moreover the so-called members of ATDC doing work themselves raises questions about their integrity, and points towards deeper conflict of interests in the allocation of the contracts for the works ordered by the Auroville Foundation Secretary.

The residents of Auroville are shocked by this violent response by people representing the office of the Secretary. A police complaint has been filed for these unwarranted and inappropriate acts – see text of complaint below.

It has been reported to us by a reliable source that tomorrow, 11th March, external anti-social elements will be brought in as enforcers, as was done in December 2021 at the Auroville International Youth Center.

Text of complaint, as registered with the Tamil Nadu police

To know the status visit : http://eservices.tnpolice.gov.in

Report taken on: 10-03-2023 10:14 AM

PROPERTY OF AUROVILLE WAS BEING DESTROYED AND TREE CUTTING WAS TAKING PLACE IN DARKALI UNDER THE ORDERS OF SINDHUJA, ANTIM, LIEVE, TOBY AND VARUN. I PLEADED WITH THEM TO SHOW A WORK ORDER FOR THE TREE CUTTING, BUT THEY REFUSED CITING NO NEED TO SHOW ANYTHING. I WAS PUSHED VIOLENTLY AND REPEATEDLY BY ANTIM AND TOBY (BOTH MALES) WITH THEIR BODIES. VARUN (MALE, NOT AUROVILIAN) AGGRESSIVELY GRABBED MY ARM AND PUSHED ME.

SINDHUJA AND LIEVE SLAPPED AND GRABBED MY ARMS AND USED THEIR BODIES SEVERAL TIMES TO PUSH ME WHILE A CHAINSAW WAS REVVING. IT WAS TURNED OFF JUST IN TIME TO AVOID SERIOUS INJURY. COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED ON SOME OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED INDIVIDUALS PREVIOUSLY.