web: www.villageaction.

in email: avagoffice@auroville.org.in phone: +91 (0413) 267-8871/ 267-8872

AVAG envisions interweaving the traditions of local villages with Auroville universal township’s dream,
of all beings living in peace and progressive harmony, above all creeds, all politics and all nationalities.

Auroville Village Action Group (AVAG)

Integral Village Development
for Individual and Communal Empowerment

AVAG’S Mission: To partner in a process of integral

development with all the local village communities
surrounding Auroville with particular emphasis on
facilitating community solidarity, fostering capacity
for self-empowerment, and promoting gender and caste
equality.

Comprehensive Development Range of

Approach Sectors Stakeholders

• Community 1) Human Rights i. SHG’s &

Development (human unity and Federations
(communal) social dialogue) (all ages, whole
2) Economic family)
• Economic (finance and ii. Indirect
Development income generation) Beneficiaries
(individual and 3) Environment iii. Caste and Dalit
communal) 4) Education Groups
5) Health (physical iv. AVAG & Other
• Capacity and psychological) NGO’s
Building 6) Physical v. Private
(individual) Infrastructure Institutions
Development (includes banks)
• Psychosocial vi. Government
Services (at local, block,
(individual) district, & state
levels)

For more on Auroville

visit: www.auroville.org

“A relationship that is not only cordial but friendly with the inhabitants of the neighboring village
is absolutely indispensable. My blessings are with all sincere effort towards harmony.”
~The Mother
 Community Development
To foster solidarity and mutual responsibility
through physical infrastructure projects,
social exchanges, and providing access to
social welfare programmes.
Activities:
• Micro Projects & Work Camps
• Exchange Programmes
• Linkages with Government schemes
(including Life Insurance and
scholarships)
• Women’s Day & Men’s Sports Day
Economic Development
To increase opportunity, strengthen the
community’s livelihood base, and support
beneficiaries’ integral development
Activities:
• Micro Finance Programme (since 1995)
• Social Enterprise Development
(including the EcoLife Store)
• Entrepreneurship Trainings
• Livelihood Trainings (including
tailoring & embroidery, & recycled
wastepaper crafts)
Capacity Building
To expand each beneficiary’s social
perspective and technical ability through an
integral education that nurtures individual
capacity for self-empowerment.
Activities:
• Leadership and In-Service Trainings
• Exposure & Educational Trips
• Strengthening & Cluster Meetings
• Seminars & Workshops (for
environment & global warming,
gender & caste sensitisation, health
& nutrition, social analysis, managing
finances, etc.)
Psychosocial Services
To protect and support the emotional,
mental, spiritual, and physical health of the
individual so they may best participate in
their own self-empowerment and betterment
of their community.
Activities:
• Somatic Experiencing
• Energy Healing
• Human Rights Abuse Counseling
• Self-Analysis
• Anti-Depression Techniques
AVAG’s target area is the
Vanur block, Villupuram
district, Tamil Nadu, India.
Arumugam from Gandhiji
group at Uppuvellore
“My wife is in AVAG women’s
group. In the beginning when she
started to assist to the meetings, I
was arguing with her because of
my ignorance. At that time I was
planning to purchase a house plot
and needed Rs. 20,000. I found a
lender, but the interest rate was
very high. My wife was able
to receive a loan for the whole
amount at a lower interest. Thanks
to the women’s group the men
became involved in village work
and became motivated to start a
men’s group also. Through our
clubs we have done work camps
and completed micro projects
in the village. Now more of the
villagers are interested in our
work and are supporting our
activities. We are leasing some
land from the temple with coconut
trees and plan to sell the coconuts
for income. Many times our
men’s group collaborates with the
women’s group to do some village
work. We feel happy to be a group
that is doing something positive
for our village.”