>Aavindraa at 05:16, 13 April 2021

2021-04-13T05:16:07Z

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{{short description|Non-profit organisation in India and elsewhere}}

'''AIM (All India Movement) For Seva''' is a [[service organization]] in [[India]], founded by [[Dayananda Saraswati (Ärsha Vidya)|Swami Dayananda Saraswati]] in 2000 to make [[education]] and [[healthcare]] accessible to children in rural areas of India.<ref name=home100/><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://aimforseva.in/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Outreach-December-2017.pdf|publication-date=2017-12-01|title=Outreach, a publication documenting progress made by the AIM for the Seva mission}}</ref> It is a [[non-governmental organization]] (NGO) in special consultative status with the [[United Nations Economic and Social Council]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N13/298/90/PDF/N1329890.pdf?OpenElement|title=Statement submitted by All India Movement for Seva, a non-governmental organization in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council|date=2013-04-19|publisher=[[ECOSOC]]}}</ref> AIM for Seva is funded entirely by donations.<ref name=home100>{{Cite news|author=Staff Reporter|date=2014-02-02|title=Aim for Seva sets up 100th free student home|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/aim-for-seva-sets-up-100th-free-student-home/article5643514.ece|access-date=2021-01-13|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

The organization’s overseas operations are in the [[United States]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=India Herald|url=http://india-herald.com/all-india-movement-for-seva-projects-elicit-overwhelming-response-p1049-1.htm|access-date=2021-01-13|website=india-herald.com}}</ref> [[Canada]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Welcome to AIM for SEVA {{!}} AIM for SEVA Canada|url=https://www.aimforseva.ca/|access-date=2021-01-13|website=www.aimforseva.ca}}</ref> and [[Australia]]. The group's aim is to close the cultural, social and economic divide between urban and rural areas in India.<ref name="timesunion.com">{{cite web |title=Building schools to make a difference |url=http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Building-schools-to-make-a-difference-5982649.php|accessdate=8 May 2015}}</ref>

== Etmology ==

Seva is a concept in Indian religions that translate to [[selfless service]].
== Project Initiatives ==

[[Sheela Balaji]] is the managing trustee and chair of AIM For Seva,which is a Pan-India charitable trust which is tasked with opening and sustaining free student hostels in remote and rural parts of India to help children from those regions to continue schooling<ref name="AIM Reference3" />.<ref name="AIM Reference1">{{cite news |title=AIM for Seva to presents virtual event for a cause {{!}} Chennai News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/aim-for-seva-to-presents-virtual-event-for-a-cause/articleshow/79542692.cms |access-date=4 March 2021 |publisher=The Times of India |date=3 December 2020 |language=en}}</ref>.<ref name=home100/> The organisation runs a large school in [[Manjakkudi]] in [[Tamil Nadu]], but it also has 100 hostels across India. Balaji was awarded the [[Nari Shakti Puraskar]] for her work (including preserving and growing rare rice varieties).<ref name=citation>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=7 March 2018|title=Meet Ms. Sheela Balaji, #NariShakti Puraskar 2017 awardee.|url=https://twitter.com/pib_india/status/971367318579118080|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=13 January 2021|website=PIB India}}</ref> The trust had helped over 30,000 children in 16 states in India,with over 105 free student homes with an average of 30 students in each home and the setting up of each hostel takes $1,00,000 and the annual cost of each student works out approx $450.<ref name="AIM Reference3" />

===Free Student Homes (Chatralayas)===
The movement is an integrated community development program designed to reach out to rural and tribal children across India.<ref name="AIM Reference2">{{cite news |title=AIM for Seva presents Antar-Yatra – The Journey Within |url=https://www.punekarnews.in/aim-for-seva-presents-antar-yatra-the-journey-within/ |access-date=4 March 2021 |publisher=Punekar News |date=12 July 2016}}</ref> The core initiative of AIM for Seva are free [[student]] homes or ''Chatralayas''. It is a means to create an educational environment for disadvantaged children, who are provided 360 degree support (24*7*365) to continue their education through its facilities, which are referred to as Free Student Hostels (FSH).<ref name="AIM Reference2" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=VENKATRAMAN|first=DEEPA|title=A loving second home|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/variety/a-loving-second-home/article23029221.ece|access-date=2021-01-13|website=@businessline|language=en}}</ref> Children are offered educational opportunities apart from a clean environment to stay, food, education and extracurricular activities.<ref>{{cite web |title=US, Mysuru kids learn from each other|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysuru/US-Mysuru-kids-learn-from-each-other/articleshow/45647489.cms|accessdate=8 May 2015}}</ref> Education regarding healthy living and ‘eco-learning’ or understanding how to be environmentally aware are also aspects of the experience. Many student homes are located near other academic institutions to ensure that students can access to continuing studies. One of the goals of the organization is to build a student home in every rural district in India or roughly 600 student homes.<ref name="timesunion.com"/> Since 2001, more than 100 homes have been built.<ref name="timesunion.com"/> The free student hostels provides accommodation for children from 4th class to 12th class which is most crucial time of growth and learning for a student and the hostels provide children with good study facilities,meals, and knowledge of health and hygiene for children's holistic growth.<ref name="AIM Reference3" />

===Healthcare===
It has also expanded its scope of aid through the opening of free health centres.

===Other===
Other initiatives include Art for Development,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aimforseva.org/media-and-news/aim-for-seva-launches-art-for-development-initiative-with-workshop/ |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2014-08-18 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819082325/http://www.aimforseva.org/media-and-news/aim-for-seva-launches-art-for-development-initiative-with-workshop/ |archivedate=2014-08-19 }}</ref> renewable energy, theatre for development and distance learning. On December 13,2020 AIM for Seva organised virtual performances ‘Shiva Shakti’ (a dance-theatre by Odissi exponent Sharmila Biswas) and ‘Psychology & Contemporary Management’ (a talk by its founder Swami Dayananda Saraswati),proceeds of the event were donated towards annadanam for 250 students who stay across chatralayas due to Covid-19.<ref name="AIM Reference1" /> Many of these children come from remote villages and tribal settlements and AIM for seva is supporting by giving the children three nutritious meals daily.<ref name="AIM Reference1" /> On the evening of October 6,2018,a mesmerizing dance drama titled “Nandalala” by Bharathanjali marked the annual donor appreciation event of the Bay Area chapter of the All India Movement for Seva at the Smithwick Theater at Foothill College,California.<ref name="AIM Reference3">{{cite news |last1=NARANG |first1=SHALINI K. |title=AIM for SEVA Holds Annual Bay Area Donor Appreciation Event, Dance Drama ‘Nandalala’ |url=https://www.indiawest.com/news/global_indian/aim-for-seva-holds-annual-bay-area-donor-appreciation-event-dance-drama-nandalala/article_eea9f000-ccc9-11e8-9d51-ebe45be963e2.html |access-date=4 March 2021 |publisher=India West |date=10 October 2018 |language=en}}</ref> There are around 30 chapters of the non-profit in the United States and the Bay Area chapter of the non-profit is responsible for sustaining seven hostels for approximately $100,000.<ref name="AIM Reference3" /> There was also a planned contribution towards the construction of the Swami Dayananda Residential School and Free Student Hostel complex in a village in Madhya Pradesh in also including facilities for rural ambulance service and health sanitation program for the local community.<ref name="AIM Reference3" />

==Impact==

A list of Indian states with Free Student Homes & the number of students in 2015 was: [[Andhra Pradesh]] (368), [[Gujarat]] (346), [[Haryana]] (41), [[Himachal Pradesh]] (35), [[Karnataka]] (763), [[Kerala]] (88), [[Madhya Pradesh]] (439), [[Maharashtra]] (287), [[Orissa, India|Orissa]] (20), [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]] (unknown), [[Rajasthan]] (25), [[Tamil Nadu]] (686), [[Telangana]] (175) and [[Uttar Pradesh]] (69).<ref>{{cite web|title=Reach |url=http://www.aimforseva.org/content/reach|accessdate=8 May 2015}}</ref> AIM supports over 4000 children across 104 chatralayas in 16 states.<ref name="AIM Reference1" />

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.aimforseva.org Official website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20130515171515/http://www.indiawest.com/news/6587--nayani-dazzles-at-aim-for-seva-fundraiser.html ‘Nayani’ Dazzles at AIM for Seva Fundraiser], ''IndiaWest''
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20130630205959/http://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/resources/organizations/all-india-movement-for-seva All India Movement for Seva ], [[Georgetown University]]
*[http://www.ted.com/speakers/swami_dayananda_saraswati.html Speakers Dayananda Saraswati: Vedantic teacher], [[TED Talks]]
*[http://www.indoamerican-news.com/?p=19251 Youthful Testimonials at Program at UH Give Impact of AIM for Seva’s Mission], ''Indo American News''

[[Category:Charities based in India]]
[[Category:United Nations Economic and Social Council]]

AIM For Seva - Revision history

>Aavindraa at 05:16, 13 April 2021