Current issue Archive copies Auroville Experience March 2007 IAC proposes an ‘executive leadership’ group - Carel The Auroville International Advisory Council held its half yearly meeting on 21st February 2007. As has become customary, its report was made available immediately afterwards.
The members of the International Advisory Council (IAC), Mark Tully, chairman, Doudou Diène, Michael Murphy and Marc Luyckx Ghisi, had spent quite a few days in Auroville before the meeting, giving lectures and interacting with many groups and individuals. The report of their meeting reflected these intense interactions.
Executive leadership a must
The IAC's main concern, once again, is Auroville's need for executive leadership which, it writes, “had come to us in many ways in relation to issues raised during our consultations. We advocate the creation of an executive leadership group, which could be conceived as a ‘City Council' if the people of Auroville so desire it. In any case we share and endorse The Mother's statement, where she explicitly speaks about an ‘executive body' conceived as an Auroville Council, composed of four, seven or eight members who would be unanimously accepted by the vast majority of the community and who would share, in essence, the same vision and understanding of the aim and principles of Auroville as they would have been generally accepted by the Aurovilians. The Auroville Council, representing the whole community, would be its executive and administrative body and its assent and participation necessary to all the resolutions and actions of the community in all more important matters of government, finance, policy, throughout the whole range of communal interests. But it would not interfere unduly with the life of the community; it would superintend and assist its right process and see that the raison d' être and the main principles of Auroville are observed. And here is the way she describes the type of persons to be in this executive body.
The IAC's main concern, once again, is Auroville's need for executive leadership which, it writes, “had come to us in many ways in relation to issues raised during our consultations. We advocate the creation of an executive leadership group, which could be conceived as a ‘City Council' if the people of Auroville so desire it. In any case we share and endorse The Mother's statement, where she explicitly speaks about an ‘executive body' conceived as an Auroville Council, composed of four, seven or eight members who would be unanimously accepted by the vast majority of the community and who would share, in essence, the same vision and understanding of the aim and principles of Auroville as they would have been generally accepted by the Aurovilians. The Auroville Council, representing the whole community, would be its executive and administrative body and its assent and participation necessary to all the resolutions and actions of the community in all more important matters of government, finance, policy, throughout the whole range of communal interests. But it would not interfere unduly with the life of the community; it would superintend and assist its right process and see that the raison d' être and the main principles of Auroville are observed. And here is the way she describes the type of persons to be in this executive body.
‘If there is no representative of the supreme consciousness (that can happen, can't it?), if there is no one, then perhaps this could be replaced (it would be an experiment) by the government of a few – which should be decided between four and eight, something like that: four, seven or eight – who have an INTUITIVE intelligence. “Intuitive” is more important than “intelligence”: an intuition manifested intellectually.' Both the selection and the functioning of this executive group should be based on 2 principles: (1) The principle of spiritual wisdom described by the Mother and
(2) The principle of participatory governance and devolution.
The International Advisory Council believes that the changes that need to be made to achieve these ends should be treated as a matter of urgency by the community. We also strongly believe that the Governing Board should actively assist in this process.”
The International Advisory Council believes that the changes that need to be made to achieve these ends should be treated as a matter of urgency by the community. We also strongly believe that the Governing Board should actively assist in this process.”
WC selection is divisive
The IAC observed that it did not agree with the mode of selection of the new Working Committee which, it said, was “divisive and generating vehement disagreements. There is a need for a new and less divisive process and for more reasoned discussion.” The background to this is that Aurovilians were recently asked to select 15 names for a Selection Committee which would choose the new Working Committee and Auroville Council. When the results were announced, it did not represent the cultural diversity of Auroville. There were also allegations of ‘politicking'.
The IAC observed that it did not agree with the mode of selection of the new Working Committee which, it said, was “divisive and generating vehement disagreements. There is a need for a new and less divisive process and for more reasoned discussion.” The background to this is that Aurovilians were recently asked to select 15 names for a Selection Committee which would choose the new Working Committee and Auroville Council. When the results were announced, it did not represent the cultural diversity of Auroville. There were also allegations of ‘politicking'.
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