Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Sharan Education and Welfare Society ("we", "us", "our"), operating as "Sharan for Animals", respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains what personal data we collect through https://sharanforanimals.co.in ("Website"), why we collect it, how we use and protect it, and the choices and rights available to you, in line with the Information Technology Act, 2000, the Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011, and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.

2. Information We Collect

We collect information you voluntarily provide when you:

• Submit the Contact Us form (name, email, phone number, message)
• Apply to adopt, foster, sponsor, or volunteer, or report animal cruelty (name, email, phone, address, and details relevant to the application/report)
• Make a donation or set up a monthly sponsorship (name, email, phone, billing details processed by our payment gateway)
• Subscribe to our newsletter (email address)

We may also automatically collect limited technical data (such as IP address, browser type, and pages visited) through standard website analytics and cookies to help us understand site usage.

3. How We Use Your Information

• To process and respond to donations, adoption/foster/volunteer/sponsorship applications, and cruelty reports
• To send donation receipts and, where applicable, 80G tax-exemption certificates
• To communicate with you about your application, sponsorship, or enquiry
• To send newsletters or updates about our work, where you have opted in, and which you may unsubscribe from at any time
• To improve our Website and services, and to comply with applicable legal and regulatory obligations

4. Payment Information

We do not collect or store your full debit/credit card, UPI, or net-banking credentials. Payments are processed by our third-party payment gateway provider, which handles and secures this information under its own security and privacy standards.

5. Cookies

Our Website may use cookies and similar technologies (including those from embedded third-party content such as Instagram and YouTube) to enable core functionality and understand visitor behaviour. You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings; doing so may affect some Website features.

6. Sharing of Information

We do not sell or rent your personal data. We may share information with:

• Our payment gateway provider, solely to process donations/sponsorships
• Local authorities (e.g., police, municipal corporation), where necessary to act on an animal cruelty report
• Service providers who assist us in operating the Website or our programmes, under confidentiality obligations
• Authorities, where required by law, court order, or to protect our legal rights

7. Data Retention

We retain personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes described in this Policy, including any statutory retention period applicable to donation and tax records, after which it is securely deleted or anonymised.

8. Data Security

We implement reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. However, no method of transmission or storage over the internet is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. Your Rights

Subject to applicable law, you may have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data
• Request deletion of your personal data, subject to our legal/record-keeping obligations
• Withdraw consent for newsletters or marketing communications at any time

To exercise these rights, contact us at sharanya3176@gmail.com or sharanforanimals@gmail.com.

10. Children's Privacy

Our Website is not directed at children under 18. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children without parental/guardian consent. If you believe a child has provided us personal data, please contact us so we can delete it.

11. Third-Party Links

Our Website links to or embeds third-party platforms (Instagram, YouTube, payment gateway). These third parties have their own privacy policies, and we are not responsible for their data practices.

12. Grievance Officer

In accordance with the Information Technology Act, 2000 and rules made thereunder, the contact details of our Grievance Officer are:

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with a revised "Last updated" date.

14. Contact Us