Sheela Balaji leads the Indian educational nonprofit organization (NGO) AIM For Seva.

Balaji is the managing trustee and chair of AIM For Seva[1] which runs a large school in Manjakkudi in Tamil Nadu and also has 100 hostels across India.

[5] In 2013, Balaji organized a festival in Manjakkudi dedicated to grains, which led to the rediscovery of old rice varieties.

[7][2] The award was invested by President of India Ram Nath Kovind at the Presidential Palace (Rastrapati Bhavan) in New Delhi with the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, also attending.

About 40 people or organisations were honoured that year, receiving the award and a prize of $R 100,000.