The President was received by Thiru D. Jayakumar, Minister for Fisheries and Personnel and Administrative Reforms, representing Tamil Nadu Govt, Shri V.K. Siljio, Director Unesco Division at the Ministry for Human Resources Development, Shri Madan Gopal, member of the Governing Board, Mr Srinivasmurthy, Acting Secretary of the Auroville Foundation, and Mr Ranjith, representing the Working Committee of Auroville.

He was accompanied to the Matrimandir Inner Chamber by the Lieutenant Governor of Pondicherry, Smt Kiran Bedi, by the member of the Governing Board Prof. Sachinanda Mohanty, and by Srimoyi, a Matrimandir executive.

The visit was also attended by other members of the Matrimandir Team and the Working Committee.

The Honorable President spent half an hour in the Chamber and exchanged a few words at the exit with the representative of the Tamil Nadu Govt and members of the Governing Board and Working Committee. During the very short conversation, the Honorable President enquired with the representative of the Tamil Nadu govt about the status of proper public transport access to Auroville and members of the Working Committee indicated the need for suitable land protection for Auroville.