MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION)
AUROVILE FOUNDATION, AUROVILLE-6051 01.
STANDING ORDER NO.6/201 1 dated 1’t May 2011
CONSTITUTION OF AUROVILLE TOWN DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
Whereas the Mother had envisaged Aurovitte as a universal township dedicated to
human unity and international understanding and as further described by her in ,.A
Dream” 11954), the Auroviue Charter (1968), the message “To be a True Aurovilion”
(‘1970) and the Mother’s numerous other messages and writings on Aurovitte.
Whereas Section 16(‘1) read together with Section ’17(e) of the Auroville Foundation
Act, ‘1988 and subsection 5(1)(b) of the Auroyitte Foundation Rutes, 1997 empowers
the Governing Board to constitute committees for the efficient discharge of its duties and
performance of its functions, and also prepare, in consultation with the Residents,
Assembly, the Master Plan for the international cultural township of Auroville.e
(hereinafter referred to as “the Township”) and ensure its development so planned;
Whereas the Governing Board, in terms of Section ’17(e), ibid, approved the Auroville
Universal Township Master Plan (Perspective 2025), hereinafter referred to as “the
Master Plan”, prepared by the Residents’ Assembly of Auroville;
Whereas the Master Plan was approved by the Central Government, vide Government
of India, Ministry of Human Resource Development (Department of Higher Education)
Letter No. F.27-3 /2000- UU dated 12 Aptil 2001, and was notjfjed by Aurovltte
Foundation, with the approval of the Central Government, in the Gazette of India
(Part lll) on 16th August 2010; and
Whereas Master Plan prescribes the “Town Development Council” as the body for
implementing the Master Plan with an organisafiona[ structure as in Appendix V of the
Master Plan;
Now, therefore, the Governing Board, in terms of the provisions of the Master plan,
constitutes the “Town Development Council” (hereinafter referred to as,,the
Council”) in consultation with the Residents’ Assembly through the Working
The committee, for the purpose of implementation of the Master Plan which includes but
is not limited to (1) planning, developing and building of the Township, (2) socioeconomic planning and development; (3) implementing and monitoring of
development plans; and (4) mobilizing resources and funding the planning and
development of the Township, subject to the following provisions:
1. CounciI Membership :
The Council shall consist of a maximum of 15 members nominated by the
Residents Assembly through the Working Committee from among the Residents’ of
Auroville, whose names are entered in the Register of Residents maintained in terms
of Section 18(2) of the Auroville Foundation Act1988 and approved and notified by
the Governing Board and shall include members representing functional areas and
nominated members as given below:
functional Areas (’13 members):
– Town Planning
– Urban Design
PhysicaI infrastructure
– Sociallnfrastructure
Economic Development
Applied Research on Sustainable Development
Resource Mobilisation
– implementation and Monitoring
Greenbelt, Green Zones and Parks
– Communication
Nominated Members (2 members):
– Nominee of the Governing Board
Nominee of the Working Committee
2. Office Bearers :
The Council wi[[ have three office-bearers namely one Chairperson, one MemberSecretary and one Member in charge of Finance & Accounts. The Governing Board
nominates Shri Balakrishna Doshi, to be their nominee in the Town Development Council.
The Council shall select these three office-bearers from amongst themselves and
decide on the levels of delegated authority to these office bearers.
3. Term of Office:
(a) The term of office of
notification by the Governing Board
member shall be 4 years from the date of
his/her nomination by Working Committee;
the term, the new members
induction and transition
smooth transition;
a
of
(b) Six months before the exp -y of each 4 year
of the Council will be nominated and will commence an
the process with the then-existing Council members to ensure a
(c) The Governing Board may, in consultation with the Working Committee,
may re-appoint functional-area members to the new succeeding Council, so as to
ensure continuity of work. The re-appointment of council members will be subject
to the eligibility criterion as per clause 3 (d) below,
(d) A member shall be eligible for re-nomination for a maximum of one term
in succession and for subsequent nomination on the same terms after a lapse of 2
terms from the last one; and for subsequent nomination on the same terms after a
lapse of 2 terms from the last one.
4. Cessation of Membership:
A member shall cease to be on the Council: (‘1) if he/she is continuously absent
from Councit work or Aurovitte for more than six months; (2) if he/she resigns in
writing and the resignation, recommended by the Council, is accepted by the
Governing Board; (3) if the Governing Board, on the recommendation of the Council,
for good and sufficient reasons to be recorded in writing, removes a member;
5. Nominations and Vacancies:
Members of the Council will be appointed by the Governing Board jn consultation
with the Resident’s Assembly through the Working Committee. lf a casual vacancy
is caused for any reason, the Governing Board, in consultation with the Working
Committee may appoint a member for the vacancy for the remaining period of
the term. For the appointment of members of the Council, the Governing Board
will issue suitable Office Orders from time to time. Such Office Orders will
contain the names of the members, their terms and the functional areas of
responsibility.
6. Functions and Responsibilities:
The Governing Board herewith empowers the Council, being the prescribed
Authority as mentioned in the Master Plan, with the following functions and
responsibilities:
(a) Ensure that the Township is planned, developed, and built genera[y
according to the “Galaxy Concept” approved by the Mother and the Master
Plan to manifest the Mother’s vision of Aurovjtte within a time frame;
(b) Prepare and approve Zonal Plans, Local Area Plans and 5 year Detailed
Development Pl.ans for building the Township in a time-bound manner;
(c) Review and update the Master Plan every’15 years with the first such review
to take place in 2025;
(d) Prepare and approve Development Plan Regulations (BuiLding By-taws) as
well as give Building Permissions and Completion Certificates;
(e) Prepare and approve budgets, estimates, planning schedules, work plans and
work competition schedules;
(f) Assist in raising or raise funds for planning, developing, and building the
Township including the consolidation of Land required for the purpose. The
funds so raised shall be deposited in the Aurovitte Unity Fund and disbursed
to the CounciI for the realisation of approved development plans;
(g) Secure the services of town planners, urban designers, engineers, architects,
contractors, surveyors, consultants, legal advisors, and such other experts
and professionals from within and outside Aurovitte as may be necessary
from time to time and on such terms and conditions as may be decided by
the Council;
(h) Prepare and implement communication and consultation processes that
encourage an active, constructive and participatory involvement of Aurovjtte
residents in the implementation of the Master Plan;
(i) Constitute functional teams, working groups, project teams, and other
resource groups as may be necessary from time to time on such terms and
conditions as may be decided by the CounciU
U) Secure, where necessary, the required recognition or endorsement from the
appropriate central, state, Local or district government authorities for the
implementation of the Master Plan in consultation and cooperation with the
Secretary, Auroville Foundation;
(k) Prepare rules and regulations for ensuring enforcement of the Master Plan
with the approval of the Governing Board.
7. AdYisory Committee:
The Governing Board wiLl. constitute the TDC Advisory croup (TAG) comprising up
to 7 members including the Director, Town and Country Planning, Government of
Tamil Nadu, to advise the Governing Board and the council on matters relating to the
Master Plan, including, but not limited to, the preparation of Detailed Development
Plans and the monitoring and review of planning and development progress.
8. Accountability and Reporting:
(a) The Council shall be accountable to the governing Board, through the
Working Committee, and shall submit to it a faithful and true account of its activities,
including income and expenditure as and when required by the Governing Board.
(b) The Council shalt also submit a faithful and true account of its activities
to the Residents’ Assembly, through the Working Committee, as decided from time to
time-
(c) The Council shall publish an annual report on the progress in
implementing the Master Plan.
9, lnternalManagement:
The Council shall determine, with the approval of the Governing Board through
the Working Committee, its internal working procedures in all respects not
inconsistent with the Auroville Foundation Act, ‘1988, the Aurovitte Foundation Rutes,
1997 and the provisions of this Notification. The Council shall provide a copy of its
internal management and financial processes manual to the Working Committee and
the Governing Board for information.
10. L’avenir d’Aurovitle
Since the name “L’avenir d’Aurovitte” was given by the Mother for the
Township Planning, developing and building the organisation; the Council shall retain
it and may use the expression “Auroville Town Development Council – L’avenir
d’Auroille” in its internat communications.
From the date of the constitution of the Council, the committee known by the
name of “L’avenir d’ Aurovitte” and constituted by the Governing Board by its
Standing Order No. 1/2008 dated 11 March 2008, and the connected office Orders,
shall cease to exist and function and its roles and responsibilities shall be taken over
by the Council. I
‘1 1. Amendments to the Notification
The Governing Board, in consultation with the Working Committee, may amend,
from time to time, any or att of the provisions of this Standing Order.
12. This Standing Order is issued with the approval of Chairman, Aurovitte
Foundation and shall come into force with immediate effect
(M. Ramaswamy)
Secretary