Your privacy matters to us.

Bargach Foundation ("we", "us", "our") is committed to protecting the privacy and personal information of every visitor, donor, partner, volunteer and community member who interacts with us. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and the choices you have regarding your data.

By accessing or using our website www.bargachfoundation.in or engaging with our programmes, you agree to the practices described in this policy. If you do not agree, please discontinue use of the site.

We collect information in the following ways:

Information you provide directly

• Contact details — name, email address, phone number, and postal address when you fill out our contact forms or reach out to us.
• Donation information — name, contact details, PAN, and payment-related information required for processing donations and issuing receipts.
• Volunteer & partnership information — details you share when applying to volunteer, partner with us, or participate in our programmes.
• Communications — messages, feedback, or enquiries you send us via email, forms, or social media.

Information collected automatically

• Usage data — pages visited, time spent, referring URLs, browser type, device type, operating system, and approximate geographic location.
• Cookies & similar technologies — small data files used to remember your preferences and improve site experience.
• Log data — IP address, access times, and error logs maintained by our hosting infrastructure.

Information from third parties

• Payment processors and banks that handle donation transactions.
• Analytics providers that help us understand how visitors use our site.
• Public sources, where permitted by law.

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• To respond to your enquiries, feedback, or requests.
• To process donations, issue receipts, and comply with statutory reporting.
• To communicate updates about our programmes, events, and impact stories — where you have opted in.
• To improve our website, services, and programme delivery.
• To maintain internal records, conduct audits, and meet legal or regulatory obligations.
• To protect the security and integrity of our website and users.

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to any third party for commercial purposes.

We process your personal information on the following legal grounds:

• Consent — when you voluntarily provide information through forms, donations, or subscriptions, and where you have given explicit permission.
• Legitimate interest — to operate, improve, and secure our website and services.
• Legal obligation — to comply with applicable Indian laws, including tax and reporting requirements.
• Contractual necessity — where processing is required to fulfil a service you have requested.

We share your information only in the following limited circumstances:

• Service providers — trusted partners such as payment gateways, email services, analytics providers, and hosting providers who help us operate our website and process transactions. These partners are contractually bound to protect your data.
• Legal compliance — when required by law, court order, or governmental authority.
• Protection of rights — when necessary to protect the rights, safety, or property of Bargach Foundation, our users, or the public.
• With your consent — in any other situation, we will seek your explicit permission before sharing your information.

We never sell your personal information to advertisers or unrelated third parties.

We take reasonable technical, administrative, and physical measures to safeguard your personal information against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

• Secure HTTPS encryption across the website.
• Access controls limiting who can view or process personal data.
• Regular backups and monitoring of our systems.
• Staff and volunteer training on data protection practices.

While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, but we continuously work to strengthen our safeguards.

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your browsing experience and understand how visitors use our site. Cookies help us:

• Remember your preferences and settings.
• Measure website performance and traffic patterns.
• Improve content, navigation, and functionality.

You may disable or delete cookies through your browser settings. Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of parts of our website. We do not use cookies to track you across unrelated third-party websites.

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Right to access — request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
• Right to correction — request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Right to deletion — request erasure of your personal data, subject to legal obligations.
• Right to withdraw consent — withdraw consent for communications or processing at any time.
• Right to object — object to certain types of processing, such as direct marketing.
• Right to data portability — request your data in a structured, commonly used format.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details in the Contact Us section below. We will respond within a reasonable timeframe and in accordance with applicable law.

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes described in this policy, or as required by applicable laws. Donation records are retained for the period mandated by Indian tax and regulatory requirements. Once information is no longer needed, we securely delete or anonymise it.

Our website and services are not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us so we can take appropriate action. Where our programmes involve children, we follow applicable safeguards and obtain parental or guardian consent as required.

Our website may contain links to external websites, social media platforms, or partner organisations. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these third-party sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any site you visit through links from our website.

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last updated" date. We encourage you to review this page periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

This Privacy Policy is governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India. Any disputes arising in connection with this policy shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Kolkata, West Bengal.