AIM FOR SEVA
Our Founder
Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati was a profound thinker, philosopher, spiritual teacher and one of the greatest masters of Vedanta. He was born on 15th August 1930, in Manjakkudi, a small village on the banks of River Kaveri in Tiruvarur district, Tamil Nadu.
As a world renowned spiritual teacher, Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati’s influence on the world stage has been extensive. Posthumously awarded the Padma Bhushan, he was the Founder of AIM for Seva, Swami Dayananda Educational Trust (SDET), Arsha Vidya Research & Publication Trust (AVR&PT) and Arsha Vidya Gurukulams in India and USA.
He did not confine himself just to Vedanta.His benevolence and empathy extended to all civilisations, and all cultural forms that helped bring positive change in the lives of thousands of people.Though deeply rooted in the richness of Indian tradition, he was contemporary in his thinking and approach to the issues of the day.
Pujya Swamiji’s sensitivity to the needs of Indian society has made him appreciate and empathise with problems faced in rural areas in India, such as lack of good education and healthcare.
The All India movement of Seva (AIM for Seva) emerged as a result of a conversation that Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati had with a tribal woman from rural India.
AIM for Seva
The focus is on last mile education through our flagship programme (Chatralayam) and schools.
AIM FOR SEVA
Associate Trusts
Arsha Vidya Research & Publication Trust (AVRPT)
To propagate the wisdom of Vedanta
Our Founder, Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati was a traditional teacher of Vedanta and perhaps one of the greatest in contemporary times.
AVR&PT set up as a non-profitable charitable organization in 2005 is the single-source centre for editing and publishing of Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati’s teachings in all formats.
To Know More: https://avrpt.com/
Swami Dayananda Educational Trust
Creating an environment of learning in Manjakkudi
Located in the Kaveri delta, Manjakkudi is the birthplace of our Founder, Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati.
The Swami Dayananda Educational Trust (SDET) is currently managing 14 projects in the region in spheres of education, traditional knowledge systems, healthcare, sustainable living and community services initiatives.
To Know More: https://www.sdet.in/
Our Vision
To transform society through a network of Seva, of caring, to bridge the urban-rural divide, empowering every person to contribute to the progress of the nation.
Our Mission
Empowerment through value-based education and reaching out to the children of rural India through a network of Chatralayams (Free Student Hostels) and schools.
Philosophy
The AIM for Seva philosophy of sustainable development is supported by three pillars: Care, Innovate, Educate. Each of our carefully designed projects resonates with one (or more) of these pillars, thus ensuring a structure and form for AIM for Seva to reach the depths of rural India.
AIM FOR SEVA
The Movement
Started in the year 2000, AIM for Seva’s mainstay is rural education with the flagship programme being Chatralayam. The revelation site for the same was at the foothills of the Nilgiris.
In 1999, when PujyaSwami Dayananda Saraswati visited the hills of the Anaikatti range in Tamil Nadu, he was astonished to discover more than 100 tiny hamlets nestled within the mountains.
In one of the villages, he enquired of an elderly lady from the Irula tribe, “What help do you need?” The lady, named Papammal, immediately responded “Saami, my children need to walk seven kilometers to school, across the forest which is very unsafe. Why don’t you build a hostel and help them go to school?”
Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati inferred that the last mile education conundrum in India could be resolved by establishing a hostel network across the country, wherein the hostels would be situated in close proximity to schools. Students could live in this place and attend the nearby school.
Milestones
Flagship Programme: Chatralayams
All our Chatralayams are managed by our sadhu and sadhvi coordinators, who have been disciples of Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati. The staff employed at our Chatralayams (free student hostels) comprise a warden, cook and a helper. Security personnel and CCTV (close circuited television) provide ample protection and a secure environment for our students.
The first Chatralayam (free student hostel) was started in the year 2011. Today, AIM for Seva is spread over 17 states and 189 projects. The flagship programme is Chatralayam or (free student hostel). As we gained experience, the scope of operations were expanded to include projects in the areas of healthcare, care for adults and children with developmental delays and sustainable living programmes.
AIM for SEVA’s Global Presence
Project Firsts
- AIM for Seva Sewing Centre (Tailoring Centre),Uttarakhand —1999
- AIM for Seva Shamlaji Hopsital, Gujarat—2003
- Inder & Prabha Sharma Girls School, Madhya Pradesh-- 2009
- Swami Dayananda Krupa Home, Tamil Nadu—2010
- Smt. Seethalakshmi Ammal AIM for Seva Training Centre, Tamil Nadu --2015 (Sewing Centre & Computer Centre)
AIM FOR SEVA
Meet Our Board Members
All of our board members are non-salaried, and receive no remuneration in any form. They have undertaken their positions on a purely voluntary basis, with the aim of contributing to society.
Ms. Sheela Balaji,
Chairperson & Managing Trustee,
Social Entrepreneur
Inspired by her Guru, Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati, Ms. Sheela Balaji, Chairperson and Managing Trustee of AIM for Seva and Swami Dayananda Educational Trust (SDET) has directed her efforts towards educating rural India. Under her stewardship, AIM for Seva now has a K2K presence, Karnaprayag to Kanyakumari, spanning 190 projects, touching the lives of over 20 million individuals.
At Manjakkudi village in Tiruvarur district, Tamil Nadu, the birthplace of Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati, Ms. Balaji directly oversees the functioning of three educational institutions and related projects. These include a Vedapatashala and a Vedanta study centre. As part of sustainable living initiatives, she has been the driving force behind the revival, cultivation and re-introduction of over 272 heritage rice varieties from across India under the label, Spirit of the Earth (SOTE). This initiative includes maintaining a gaushala for indigenous breeds of cattle at Manjakkudi.
To facilitate the dissemination of the spiritual wisdom received from her teacher, Ms. Balaji also established the Arsha Vidya Research & Publications Trust (AVRPT), of which she is the Chairperson and Managing Trustee. AVRPT is the single-source centre for editing and publishing the teachings of Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati. She has authored a biography on her Guru as well as books on Vedanta.
Ms. Balaji received the ‘Nari Shakti Puraskar 2017’ award from the Ministry of Women & Child Development. This award is the one of the highest civilian honours bestowed exclusively to inspirational women. Recently, she was made a non officio member of the Council of the National Culture Fund, Ministry of Culture, Government of India for a three year period till March 2025.
Swami Sakshatkrtananda Saraswati ji
Swami Sakshatkrtananda Saraswati is a senior disciple of Pujya Sri Swami Dayananda Saraswati. He is the Chairman and Managing Trustee of Sri Gangadharesvar Trust which manages Swami Dayananda Ashram in Rishikesh. Swami Sakshatkrtananda Saraswati ji is also the Chief Acharya of the Ashram.
Swamiji underwent a long-term course study in Vedanta and Sanskrit in Sandeepany Sadhanalaya between 1980-1982 under the tutelage of Svarupa Caitanya (now Swami Viditatmananda Saraswati). Swamiji served Pujya Swamiji and the ashram for many years between 1984 and 2000. He was initiated into the order of sannyasa by Pujya Swamiji in 1992. Swamiji successfully conducted a three-year course at Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, Anaikatti, Coimbatore (India) between 2010 and 2013
Swami Sakshatkrtananda Saraswati is a senior disciple of Pujya Sri…
R. Kannan
Board Director In Shriram Group
Mr. R. Kannan is among the senior-most Directors of the Shriram Group, under whose leadership Shriram Chits has become a Rs. 3,000-crore institution and the leader in the chit funds industry. Under him, the chit marketing network has turned into a multi-product vendor, helping promote and distribute various products and services of the group as well as associate companies.
Board Director In Shriram Group Mr. R. Kannan is among…
Ravee Malhotra
Mr. Ravee Malhotra was born in Lahore and moved to Chennai in 1948. He did his bachelor’s in commerce from Loyola College, Chennai.
Mr. Ravee Malhotra then joined his father’s business of distribution of NBC bearings that he continues to oversee. He started Evolv Clothing Co. Pvt. Ltd. in 1975 and serves as its Chairman. In 2001, Ravee Malhotra started Evoluzione which specializes in retailing of designer garments.
He is also the Managing Trustee of Arya Samaj Central Trust Board and Trustee of Punjab Association which manages Adarsh Vidyalaya schools and Anna Adarsh College and Sri Jagannath Spiritual Educational Cultural Trust. Mr. Ravee Malhotra is also the Vice President of Tamil Nadu Arya Samaj Educational Society.
Mr. Ravee Malhotra was born in Lahore and moved to…
Dr. E.S. Krishnamoorthy
Behavioural Neurologist & Neuropsychiatrist
Dr. Ennapadam S. Krishnamoorthy is a Behavioural Neurologist and Neuropsychiatrist. The founder of Buddhi Clinic and Neurokrish Foundation, he is a pioneer of integrated and holistic care and rehabilitation for the brain and mind. He has taken on multiple international leadership roles in the clinical science and treatment of epilepsy, dementia and neuropsychiatric disorders.
He is the immediate past president of the International Neuropsychiatric Association (INA) and the editor of the Global Approach series for Cambridge University Press & Neuropsychiatry Across Cultures for Oxford University Press. He has to his credit 70 plus scientific papers, 30 plus book chapters and over 25 articles in the lay press and has lectured widely across four continents. He convenes the TS Srinivasan Conclave & Oration annually, is Adjunct Professor at Manipal University and Public Health Foundation India. He is also Senior Clinical Advisor- Neurosciences, Apollo Hospitals Group.
Behavioural Neurologist & Neuropsychiatrist Dr. Ennapadam S. Krishnamoorthy is a…
Arvind Balaji
Arvind Balaji is currently engaged as Managing Director of Lucas TVS Limited, Managing Director of India Nippon Electricals Limited and Director of Lucas Indian Service Limited, Delphi- TVS Technologies Limited, TVS Training & Services Limited and Schaeffler India Limited.
Arvind is the Past President (2015-16) of the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association (ACMA) and led the Technology, Safety and Regulatory (TSR) Committee of ACMA (2017-18). Arvind continues to play an active role in all ACMA Technology and Regulatory Committees. Arvind is also a member of the CII Manufacturing Council.
Prior to joining Lucas-TVS, Arvind worked in the investment banking division of Bank of America in the General Industrials group where he focused on helping automotive companies in financing and M&A transactions. Arvind also worked at Oracle Corporation in their consulting division.
Arvind has an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania as well as a Masters degree in Manufacturing Systems Engineering from Stanford University and Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering from BITS – Pilani, Rajasthan, India.
Arvind Balaji is currently engaged as Managing Director of Lucas…
Priyamvada Balaji
Ms. Priyamvada Balaji is a full-time Director at Lucas Indian Service (LIS) Ltd, Chennai. She is also on the board of Lucas TVS Ltd. She is a member of Tamil Nadu State Council of Confederation of Indian Industry. She has experience in international bond ratings as well. During her eight years of experience in credit ratings, she covered a wide range of sectors including autos, metals and mining and manufacturing. Prior to this, she had around three years of experience in commercial and investment banking. Ms. Balaji has a post-graduate diploma in management from IIM Ahmedabad (2000), and has a Bach. degree in economics from Stella Maris, Chennai, where she was an academic silver medallist.
Ms. Priyamvada Balaji is a full-time Director at Lucas Indian…
R. Kannan
Board Director In Shriram Group
Mr. R. Kannan is among the senior-most Directors of the Shriram Group, under whose leadership Shriram Chits has become a Rs. 3,000-crore institution and the leader in the chit funds industry. Under him, the chit marketing network has turned into a multi-product vendor, helping promote and distribute various products and services of the group as well as associate companies.
Board Director In Shriram Group Mr. R. Kannan is among…
Ravee Malhotra
Mr. Ravee Malhotra was born in Lahore and moved to Chennai in 1948. He did his bachelor’s in commerce from Loyola College, Chennai.
Mr. Ravee Malhotra then joined his father’s business of distribution of NBC bearings that he continues to oversee. He started Evolv Clothing Co. Pvt. Ltd. in 1975 and serves as its Chairman. In 2001, Ravee Malhotra started Evoluzione which specializes in retailing of designer garments.
He is also the Managing Trustee of Arya Samaj Central Trust Board and Trustee of Punjab Association which manages Adarsh Vidyalaya schools and Anna Adarsh College and Sri Jagannath Spiritual Educational Cultural Trust. Mr. Ravee Malhotra is also the Vice President of Tamil Nadu Arya Samaj Educational Society.
Mr. Ravee Malhotra was born in Lahore and moved to…
Dr. E.S. Krishnamoorthy
Behavioural Neurologist & Neuropsychiatrist
Dr. Ennapadam S. Krishnamoorthy is a Behavioural Neurologist and Neuropsychiatrist. The founder of Buddhi Clinic and Neurokrish Foundation, he is a pioneer of integrated and holistic care and rehabilitation for the brain and mind. He has taken on multiple international leadership roles in the clinical science and treatment of epilepsy, dementia and neuropsychiatric disorders.
He is the immediate past president of the International Neuropsychiatric Association (INA) and the editor of the Global Approach series for Cambridge University Press & Neuropsychiatry Across Cultures for Oxford University Press. He has to his credit 70 plus scientific papers, 30 plus book chapters and over 25 articles in the lay press and has lectured widely across four continents. He convenes the TS Srinivasan Conclave & Oration annually, is Adjunct Professor at Manipal University and Public Health Foundation India. He is also Senior Clinical Advisor- Neurosciences, Apollo Hospitals Group.
Behavioural Neurologist & Neuropsychiatrist Dr. Ennapadam S. Krishnamoorthy is a…
Arvind Balaji
Arvind Balaji is currently engaged as Managing Director of Lucas TVS Limited, Managing Director of India Nippon Electricals Limited and Director of Lucas Indian Service Limited, Delphi- TVS Technologies Limited, TVS Training & Services Limited and Schaeffler India Limited.
Arvind is the Past President (2015-16) of the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association (ACMA) and led the Technology, Safety and Regulatory (TSR) Committee of ACMA (2017-18). Arvind continues to play an active role in all ACMA Technology and Regulatory Committees. Arvind is also a member of the CII Manufacturing Council.
Prior to joining Lucas-TVS, Arvind worked in the investment banking division of Bank of America in the General Industrials group where he focused on helping automotive companies in financing and M&A transactions. Arvind also worked at Oracle Corporation in their consulting division.
Arvind has an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania as well as a Masters degree in Manufacturing Systems Engineering from Stanford University and Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering from BITS – Pilani, Rajasthan, India.
Arvind Balaji is currently engaged as Managing Director of Lucas…
Priyamvada Balaji
Ms. Priyamvada Balaji is a full-time Director at Lucas Indian Service (LIS) Ltd, Chennai. She is also on the board of Lucas TVS Ltd. She is a member of Tamil Nadu State Council of Confederation of Indian Industry. She has experience in international bond ratings as well. During her eight years of experience in credit ratings, she covered a wide range of sectors including autos, metals and mining and manufacturing. Prior to this, she had around three years of experience in commercial and investment banking. Ms. Balaji has a post-graduate diploma in management from IIM Ahmedabad (2000), and has a Bach. degree in economics from Stella Maris, Chennai, where she was an academic silver medallist.
Ms. Priyamvada Balaji is a full-time Director at Lucas Indian…