Privacy Policy

1. About This Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains how Śrīpāda Vallabha Bhaktha Samaj handles information in connection with the Śrīpāda Vallabha Bhaktha Samaj website, Progressive Web App (PWA), and Android application that provides access to the Samaj's online services.

The website and application provide spiritual, literary, fellowship, event and devotional resources and may allow devotees to register for fellowship and participate in Samaj activities.

2. Information We Collect

When a devotee chooses to register for fellowship, we may collect the following information:

• Mobile number — used for mobile-number verification and fellowship access.
• Name — provided by the devotee for the fellowship record.
• Email address — optional, when the devotee chooses to provide it.
• Country — provided during registration.
• State / Province / Region — optional location information provided by the devotee.
• Areas of interest — optional interests selected by the devotee, such as Satsang, Namjap, Seva and Goseva.
• Fellowship ID — a unique identifier generated for a registered fellowship member.

3. Mobile Number Verification

Fellowship registration uses one-time password (OTP) verification of the mobile number.

OTP services are provided through MSG91, an external service provider. The mobile number is transmitted to MSG91 for the purpose of sending and verifying the OTP.

Following successful verification, our server verifies the authentication response provided by the OTP service and uses the verified mobile number to identify an existing fellowship record or begin a new registration.

OTP verification information is used for authentication and is not intended to form part of the devotee's public fellowship profile.

4. How We Use Information

Personal information collected through fellowship registration may be used for the following purposes:

• To verify a devotee's mobile number.
• To create and maintain a fellowship record.
• To provide access to fellowship-related services.
• To identify participation in Samaj activities and events where applicable.
• To communicate with devotees where appropriate and where contact information has been provided.
• To understand voluntarily selected areas of interest such as Satsang, Namjap, Seva and Goseva.
• To maintain the security and proper functioning of the website and application.

5. How We Do Not Use Your Information

Śrīpāda Vallabha Bhaktha Samaj does not sell devotees' personal information.

Personal information collected through fellowship registration is not intended to be used for unrelated commercial advertising or sale of personal information.

6. Sharing of Information

We limit the sharing of personal information to what is reasonably necessary to operate the fellowship services.

OTP Service Provider

The mobile number entered for OTP verification is transmitted to MSG91 for OTP delivery and verification.

MSG91 therefore processes the mobile number in connection with the OTP service.

We do not sell or rent fellowship members' personal information to third parties.

7. Voluntary Information

Certain information requested during registration is optional. For example, email address, state or region, and areas of interest may be left blank where the registration form permits.

Devotees are encouraged to provide only information that they are comfortable sharing.

8. Security of Information

We take reasonable measures to protect personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure or misuse.

These measures include the use of secure communications where available, controlled server access, server-side processing and database safeguards.

Registration information is processed through the Samaj's website and database infrastructure and is not intentionally made publicly available as a complete personal profile.

However, no method of transmission or electronic storage can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

9. Data Retention

Fellowship information is retained for as long as reasonably necessary to maintain the fellowship record and provide related Samaj services.

Information may also be retained for a reasonable period where necessary for security, record integrity, dispute resolution or other legitimate operational purposes.

We do not retain OTP information as part of the permanent fellowship profile.

10. Data Deletion and Privacy Requests

A devotee may contact us to request deletion of their fellowship information.

When processing a deletion request, we may need to verify that the request is being made by the fellowship member concerned.

Where a deletion request is valid and applicable, we will delete the associated fellowship personal information from our active records, subject to any information that we may legitimately need to retain for security, legal or record-keeping purposes.

We are also working toward providing a more direct account-deletion facility within the application and through the website.

11. Website and Application Technologies

The Samaj website and application use standard web technologies such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript and browser-based storage/cache mechanisms required for website and Progressive Web App functionality.

The application is delivered using a Progressive Web App and Trusted Web Activity technology. These technologies allow the Android application to securely present the Samaj website and its services.

The application does not intentionally access contacts, photographs, microphone, camera or precise device location for fellowship registration.

12. Third-Party Services

Certain technical services used by the website or application may be provided by third parties.

These may include:

• MSG91 — mobile OTP delivery and verification.
• Google Fonts — fonts used for presentation of certain website content.

Third-party services may process technical information according to their own privacy practices and policies.

13. Cookies and Technical Information

The website may use session information and other standard technical mechanisms necessary to maintain secure fellowship sessions and provide website functionality.

Such technical mechanisms are used to operate the service and are not intended to create a commercial advertising profile of devotees.

14. Children's Privacy

The Samaj website and application are not designed as a service specifically directed toward children.

We do not knowingly seek to collect personal information from children for purposes unrelated to the services described in this Privacy Policy.

15. External Links

The Samaj website and application may contain links to external websites, services, social-media channels, videos or other resources.

Once a user leaves the Samaj website or application, the privacy practices of the external service are governed by that service's own policies.

16. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our services, technology, legal requirements or data practices.

The latest version will be published on this page with the applicable effective date.

17. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, your personal information, or a privacy or deletion request, please contact:

18. Application Identification

This Privacy Policy applies to the application published as:

Sripada Vallabha Bhaktha Samaj

and to the corresponding Samaj website and Progressive Web App operated by Śrīpāda Vallabha Bhaktha Samaj .