Privacy Policy

Welcome to Alika Educational & Health Society ("ALIKA", "we", "our", or "us"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your information when you use our mobile application (the ALIKA App) and related web services at https://alika.online.

By using our services, you agree to the practices described in this policy. If you do not agree, please discontinue use of our services.

1. Who We Are

This application and related services are operated by:

• Organization: Alika Educational & Health Society (Registered Non-Governmental Organization)
• Registered Office: B1-16, Top Floor, Front Side Flat, Dilshad Extension II, D.L.F., Ghaziabad (U.P.), India
• Email: alikasoc@gmail.com
• Developer Contact: developer.zaidi110@gmail.com
• Telephone: +91 9811111785, +91 9811220325
• Website: https://alika.online

2. Information We Collect

We collect only the information necessary to operate our charitable and educational services. The type and amount of data we collect depends on your role within the app.

A. Account & Profile Information (All Users)

• Contact details: Name, email address, mobile number, gender, date of birth, address, and pincode.
• Login credentials: Passwords are stored in hashed form using industry-standard methods. We never store or have access to your plaintext password.
• Profile picture: An optional image you may upload.
• User role: Your account type (Student, Sponsor, Volunteer, Directory Member, or Admin).

B. Student / Beneficiary Information

• Academic details: Educational institution, course, enrollment number, education level, grades, marksheets, and attendance records.
• Family background: Family income details, parent/guardian names, occupations, and sibling information — used to assess scholarship eligibility.
• Scholarship applications: Statement of purpose, fee structure details, and scholarship category.
• Bank details: Account holder name, bank name, account number, and IFSC code — used for scholarship disbursement.
• Verification documents: Government-issued ID (such as Aadhaar), marksheets, income certificates, and related supporting documents.

C. Sponsor / Donor Information

• Profile: Name (or organization name), contact person, occupation, designation, and address.
• Identity documents: Government-issued identity proof (such as Aadhaar, PAN Card, Passport, Voter ID, or Driving License) — collected for regulatory compliance.
• Sponsorship preferences: Donation amounts, frequency, and cause preferences.

D. Volunteer Information

• Profile: Name, contact number, location, and area of expertise.
• Field verification records: Verification visit observations, outcome reports, and photos from home or school visits.

E. Directory Members

• Public listing: Name, professional title, bio, profile picture, city, and professional links.
• Private verification data: Professional license details, years of experience, and direct contact information (not displayed publicly).

3. Payment Information

When you make a donation through ALIKA:

• All electronic transactions (UPI, cards, net banking) are processed by our authorized payment gateway partner. ALIKA does not collect, process, or store your card numbers, CVVs, UPI PINs, or banking passwords.
• We store only non-sensitive transaction metadata needed for our records — such as a transaction reference ID, payment status, amount, timestamp, and donor identifier.
• We may generate donation receipts for your records.

4. Third-Party Sign-In

You may register or sign in using your Google Account. When you do, we receive basic profile information that you authorize (such as your name, email address, and profile picture). We do not receive your Google password.

5. Push Notifications & Device Data

• Push notifications: We use cloud messaging services to send you important notifications such as scholarship updates, donation confirmations, and task assignments. We store a device token on our servers to deliver these notifications. You can disable push notifications at any time through your device settings.
• Technical data: When you use the app, our servers may log standard technical information such as IP address, device type, operating system, and timestamps. This data is used for security, debugging, and preventing unauthorized access.

6. How We Use Your Information

We process personal information for the following purposes:

• Evaluating scholarship applications and disbursing financial aid.
• Connecting students with sponsors and donors.
• Verifying student identity, financial eligibility, and academic records through authorized volunteers.
• Processing donations and generating donation receipts.
• Maintaining records for organizational transparency and regulatory reporting.
• Sending transactional communications, verification codes, and password reset requests.
• Maintaining security and enforcing our Terms of Service.

7. Service Providers We Work With

We share data with the following types of service providers, who process information on our behalf:

We do not share your information with these providers beyond what is necessary for them to perform their services.

8. Data Sharing & Disclosure

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may disclose your data only in the following circumstances:

• With your consent: For example, sharing a student's scholarship summary with their assigned sponsor.
• For verification: Authorized volunteers may access necessary documents to confirm student eligibility.
• Legal requirements: Where required by law, court order, or governmental authorities.
• Protection of rights: To enforce our terms, prevent fraud, or protect the safety of our users.

9. Data Security

We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your data from unauthorized access, loss, or misuse. These include:

• Encrypted connections (HTTPS) between your device and our servers.
• Restricted access to stored files using time-limited access links.
• Secure on-device storage for authentication credentials.
• Role-based access controls to limit data access to authorized users only.

While we strive to protect your information, no method of electronic transmission or storage is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security. By using the service, you acknowledge that neither Alika Educational & Health Society nor the independent application developers and technical maintainers shall be held liable for any loss, unauthorized access, or disclosure of data.

10. Data Retention & Account Deletion

A. Retention

We retain your personal data for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide our services. Certain records (such as donation transaction history and audit logs) may be retained for longer periods as required by applicable Indian laws and regulations.

B. How to Delete Your Account

You can request the deletion of your account and personal data at any time:

• In the app: Go to Profile → Privacy & Security → Delete Account and confirm.
• On the web: Visit https://alika.online/delete-account/ and submit your registered email.

11. Children's Privacy

Because ALIKA provides educational scholarships, some beneficiaries may be under the age of 18. For minor applicants:

• Applications require parent or legal guardian details.
• By submitting an application for a minor, the parent or guardian consents to the collection and processing of the necessary academic and financial information.
• We do not use minor data for marketing or profiling purposes.
• Parents and guardians may contact us to review, correct, or request deletion of their child's data.

12. Your Rights

Under applicable data protection laws, you have the right to:

• Access: Request a summary of the personal data we hold about you.
• Correction: Update or correct inaccurate information in your profile.
• Deletion: Request deletion of your account and personal data.
• Withdraw consent: Withdraw your consent for non-essential data processing.
• Grievance redressal: Raise concerns about how we handle your data.

13. Contact Us

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

14. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page. For significant changes, we will make reasonable efforts to notify you through the app or by email.