Privacy Policy

Meer Foundation, registered in Dhamtari, Chhattisgarh (Reg. No. 3588, 23 December 2011), is the data controller responsible for your personal data. This policy applies to all visitors, donors, volunteers, students, and beneficiaries who interact with our website, programmes, or field operations. It was last reviewed and updated in July 2026.

1. Overview

Meer Foundation has been trusted with the personal data of donors, volunteers, students, and beneficiaries for years. This policy explains, in plain language, what we collect, why we collect it, how we protect it, and the rights you have over your own data.

2. Information We Collect

We collect personal information directly from you when you interact with us. This includes:

• Identity & Contact Data: Name, email address, phone number, and postal address.
• Financial Data: PAN number (for 80G receipts), bank account details, and transaction history. (Note: We do not store credit card numbers; payments are processed securely by Razorpay).
• Technical Data: IP address, browser type, and operating system (collected anonymously via Google Analytics).
• Programme Data: Educational background, field surveys, and course progress for participants in our initiatives like EduSuTo and Prayaas.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal data only where we have a lawful basis to do so:

• Donation Processing: To issue 80G tax receipts and maintain records as required by the Income Tax Act 1961.
• Programme Delivery: To administer courses, evaluate beneficiary impact, and coordinate volunteer activities.
• Communication: To send updates, newsletters, and respond to your enquiries. You can opt out of marketing communications at any time.
• Analytics: To improve our website and services.

4. Data Retention

Personal data is retained only as long as necessary for the purpose it was collected. Donation records are retained for 8 years as required by the Income Tax Act 1961. Programme beneficiary records are retained for 10 years for longitudinal impact assessment. Web-platform account data is retained until you request deletion, subject to statutory retention. Once the retention period expires, data is securely deleted or irreversibly anonymised.

5. Third-Party Sharing

We share your data only with trusted partners necessary for our operations, and we never share it for commercial gain:

• Who we share with: Payment processors (Razorpay), communication platforms (Formspree), and web analytics providers (Google Analytics). Also, government authorities when legally required.
• Who we NEVER share with: Anyone, for money — personal data is never sold, rented, or traded for any consideration.

6. Your Rights

Under applicable data protection principles, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Right to Access: You can request a copy of the data we hold about you.
• Right to Correction: You can ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete data.
• Right to Deletion: You can request that we delete your data (subject to legal retention requirements).

Email meercare@live.com with the subject line corresponding to your request (e.g., "Data Access Request"). We will verify your identity and respond within 30 days.

7. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your data, please contact us:

• Email: meercare@live.com
• Phone: +91 98261 21177