Realising that Auroville as a community needed to have a relationship with the village communities in its neighbourhood beyond that of employer, “Auroville Village Action” began in 1983 to coordinate among the various existing outreach initiatives (primarily schools for village children) and encourage new projects. Since '83, Aurovilians, social workers and villagers have worked together to run schools and training programmes for village children and young people, to organise women and young men in self-help groups and microfinance, and to assist villages generally in organising for their own development.
At its peak in 2004, AVAG was employing 80 local people working in 60 villages with a population of over 70,000. The Auroville Village Action Trust was registered in July 2000, giving a legal identity to the diverse activities of the informally organised Auroville Village Action Group.

Presently, the Auroville Village Action Trust is comprised of several units, each carrying on its own programmes. The Coordinators and Executives and Trustees meet monthly to keep each other abreast of their activities and facilitate collaboration.

1. Village Action:
   a. AVAG
   b. Auroville Coastal Development Centre (ex-Tsunami Relief)
2. Life Education Centre
3. Lively Boutique and Training Centre
4. Svaram – Mohanam
   a. Mohanam
   b. Svaram
5. Auroville Industrial School
6. Auroville Health Services
7. Deepam
8. Thamarai