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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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