Shiksha Saathi App Privacy Policy

About Shiksha Saathi App

Shiksha Saathi has been built by the Samagra Shiksha, Himachal Pradesh (also read as Department of Education, Himachal Pradesh) for the state as a free to use app, envisaged to be used by the educational functionaries across the state to built the Shiksha Saathi app as a Free app. This SERVICE is provided at no cost and is intended for use as is. Please refer this page "Government Authorisation letter" on the state, which elucidates the authorisation and approval by Samagra Shiksha, Himachal Pradesh (also read as Department of Education, Himachal Pradesh), and stating app objectives.

Privacy Policy - Introduction

When you visit our mobile application, and use our services, you trust us with your personal information. We take your privacy very seriously. In this privacy notice, we describe our privacy policy. We seek to explain to you in the clearest way possible what information we collect, how we use it and what rights you have in relation to it. We hope you take some time to read through it carefully, as it is important. If there are any terms in this privacy policy that you do not agree with, please discontinue use of our Apps and our services. This privacy policy applies to all information collected through our mobile application.

This privacy policy is used by Samagra Shiksha, Himachal Pradesh (also read as Department of Education, Himachal Pradesh) for the usage of Shiksha Saathi App. Please read this privacy policy carefully as it will help you make informed decisions about sharing your personal information with us. The personal information that we collect depends on the context of your interactions with us and the Apps, the choices you make and the products and features you use. The Personal Information that we collect is used for providing and improving the Service. We will not use or share your information with anyone except as described in this Privacy Policy.

This page is used to inform visitors regarding our policies with the collection, use, and disclosure of Personal Information if anyone decided to use our Service. If you choose to use our Service, then you agree to the collection and use of information in relation to this policy. The terms used in this Privacy Policy have the same meanings as in our Terms and Conditions, which is accessible at Shiksha Saathi unless otherwise defined in this Privacy Policy.

Information Collection and Usage

For a better experience, while using our Service, we may require you to provide us with certain personally identifiable information. The information that we request will be retained by us and used as described in this privacy policy. The app does use third party services that may collect information used to identify you. The personal information we collect can include the following :-

• Personal Information: We collect your first and last name, email address, user and phone number for app functionality and analytics. Please note that sharing of phone numbers and email address is optional for the users.

• Credentials: We collect passwords, password hints, and similar security information used for authentication and account access.

• App information and performance: We collect crash logs and diagnostics data (including Device ID) for app functionality and analytics, and help us to enhance app performance.

Please note that no data is not shared with the any external party (companies or organizations) under any circumstances, and is only accessed securely by the application and users or state administrators.

Link to privacy policy of third party service providers used by the app

• Google Play Services

Other data collected and permissions requested

We automatically collect certain information when you visit, use or navigate the Apps. This information does not reveal your specific identity (like your name or contact information) but may include device and usage information, such as your IP address, browser and device characteristics, operating system, language preferences, referring URLs, device name, country, location, information about how and when you use our Apps and other technical information. This information is primarily needed to maintain the security and operation of our Apps, and for our internal analytics and reporting purposes if you use our Apps, we may collect the following information:

• Geo-Location Information: We may request access or permission to and track location-based information from your mobile device, to provide location-based services. If you wish to change our access or permissions, you may do so in your device’s settings. This is needed to record location of the schools from the monitoring visits conducted by officers.

• Camera Permission: We may request access or permission to access camera from your mobile device, to take a picture. If you wish to change our access or permissions, you may do so in your device’s settings. This is needed to record photos from the monitoring visits conducted by officers.

• Record Audio Permission: We may request access or permission to access microphone from your mobile device, to take a audio note. If you wish to change our access or permissions, you may do so in your device’s settings. This is needed to record recordings/excerpts from the monitoring visits conducted by officers.

• Storage Access Permission: The storage access to your device will asked by the app in order to enable the offline storage of observations recorded by the users and also upload meeting documents pertaining to the observation recorded by users.

• Push-Notification: We may request to send you push notifications regarding your account or the mobile application. If you wish to opt-out from above, you may turn them off in device’s settings.

Log Data

We want to inform you that whenever you use our Service, in a case of an error in the app we collect data and information (through third party products) on your phone called Log Data. This Log Data may include information such as your device name, operating system version, the configuration of the app when utilising our Service, the time and date of your use of the Service, and other statistics. The log data is available at the governmental servers and used only for the performance enhancements of the application. The details of data collected are also mentioned above in the document.

Cookies

Cookies are files with a small amount of data that are commonly used as anonymous unique identifiers. These are sent to your browser from the websites that you visit and are stored on your device's internal memory.

This Service does not use these “cookies” explicitly. However, the app may use third party code and libraries that use “cookies” to collect information and improve their services. You have the option to either accept or refuse these cookies and know when a cookie is being sent to your device. If you choose to refuse our cookies, you may not be able to use some portions of this Service.

Service Providers

We may employ third-party companies and individuals due to the following reasons:

• To facilitate our Service;

• To provide the Service on our behalf;

• To perform Service-related services; or

• To assist us in analyzing how our Service is used.

We want to inform users of this Service that these third parties have access to your Personal Information. The reason is to perform the tasks assigned to them on our behalf. However, they are obligated not to disclose or use the information for any other purpose. In current conext, no service provider other than Google play services is being employed. Google play services are quintessentially needed for operation of the application. No PII (Personal identifiable information) is shared with Google play services by the app.

Data Storage and Retention Policy

Data transmission and storage

1. We value your trust in providing us your Personal Information, thus we are striving to use commercially acceptable means of protecting it. But remember that no method of transmission over the internet, or method of electronic storage is 100% secure and reliable, and we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

2. All the PII (personal identifiable information) data is currently stored in encrypted manner in the database, and is transmitted to the database over https secure network connection. The data however is not encrypted while transmission to the database.

Data Retention

The data once stored in the database cannot be removed as the data is used for smooth operation of app and deriving key metrics to analyse state performance.

Links to Other Sites

This Service may contain links to other sites. If you click on a third-party link, you will be directed to that site. Note that these external sites are not operated by us. Therefore, we strongly advise you to review the Privacy Policy of these websites. We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party sites or services.

Children’s Privacy (Children under 18)

Shiksha Saathi does not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from children under the age of 18. The app is only accessible to the educational functionaries of the state accessible by credentials only generated for a select set of user. Any child under the age of 18, won’t be able to use this application. In the case we discover that a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, we immediately delete this from our servers. If you are a parent or guardian and you are aware that your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us so that we will be able to do necessary actions.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. Thus, you are advised to review this page periodically for any changes. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page. These changes are effective immediately after they are posted on this page.

Contact Us

If you have any questions or suggestions about our Privacy Policy, do not hesitate to contact us at edudata.hp@gmail.com or reach out at the following address :-

State Project Office

Samagra Shiksha, Himachal Pradesh

Lalpani, Shimla -171001