Taking a cue from the Centre’s policy to offer internship to graduates and Post Graduates at Central Government Ministries and departments for more learning, the Auroville Foundation is all set to replicate the scheme for students, college pass-outs, and technical or non-technical graduates interning, volunteering and visiting its pristine campus at Auroville town near Chennai.
The program is being launched in line with the Auroville Charter which says “Auroville will be a site of material and spiritual research for a living embodiment of an actual human unity”.
“The Auroville Internship and Volunteering is committed to welcoming students who wish to participate in a project that meets one of Auroville’s needs, or those aspiring to do their own project within Auroville in a self-financed mode.
The premises will certainly offer the best of atmosphere, clean air amidst the first of its kind sustainable model city called the Auroville which is inhabited in a lush green environment,” said Jayanti S Ravi, Secretary, Auroville Foundation, which is mentored by the Union Education Ministry.
A 1991-batch IAS officer of Gujarat cadre, Jayanti is herself a scientist who happens to be a vocalist, thinker and author, who is “committed” to restore the original vision, mission and legacy of the Auroville Foundation ever since she took charge of the over five-decade-old institution almost a year ago. “I have a passion to keep on doing new things wherever I have taken charge in my administrative career and have been fortunate enough to get full guidance and support from the Governing Board, the International Advisory Council, the working groups and the Government always,” said Jayanti who was in the national Capital to hold a series of meetings with the related Ministries.
Sources in the Education Ministry, however, said since the Auroville Foundation has limited financial resources and expenses are borne by the Central government, there would not be any kind of stipend for the internship period. “We can help carry out a Volunteering or Internship project on a specific topic, related to Auroville and rooted in an Auroville activity.
A dedicated team at the ATDC (Auroville Town Development Council) and SAVI will study the intern seeker’s specific aptitude, academic qualifications, requirements and provide the candidate with necessary conditions to facilitate their work within premises on-site,” Jayanti said. Besides this, the Foundation has started a series of programmes and events including short film and essay competitions, and several cultural activities to mark the 150th birth anniversary celebration of iconic social reformer Sri Aurobindo, on whose ideals the Foundation was established by an Act of Parliament in 1988.
The ongoing city exhibition and cultural programs are a part of Invocation- the Gnostic Festival. This has had the presence and participation of Padma Vibhushan Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Spiritual leader M, D K Karthikeyan, former head of CBI & NHRC, noted artiste Ms Anita Ratnam, Yoga Srinivasan and Aavishkar Garba group, and noted artiste Gangai Amaran among many others.Founded in 1968 by Mirra Alfassa — known as ‘The Mother’ — Auroville currently has a strength of 3,200 inmates staying at a 3,300-acre green campus. Officials said the Modi Government is committed to expand Auroville into a ‘city’ in line with its existing Master Plan.
Auroville has seen almost all the top ministers including Home Minister Amit Shah as visitors to the township in recent times.