Privacy Policy

Effective Date: 1st January 2025  |  Last Updated: 25th March 2026

The G.S.B. Mandal, Thane ("we", "us", or "the Mandal") is a registered community trust serving the Gauda Saraswat Brahmin community. We are committed to protecting the privacy and personal information of our members, donors, and visitors. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and how we safeguard it.

1. Information We Collect

We collect personal information in the following contexts:

• Membership Registration: Full name, phone number, residential address, and family details to maintain our community membership records.
• Donations & Seva Bookings: Name, phone number, address, and PAN card number (required for issuing 80G tax exemption receipts under the Income Tax Act).
• Event Participation: Name, age group, and contact details for registrations in competitions, cultural events, and religious ceremonies.
• WhatsApp Communication: Phone numbers of members who join our WhatsApp groups or channel for community updates.

2. How We Use Your Information

• Maintaining membership records and community directory
• Processing donations and issuing 80G tax receipts
• Communicating event details, circulars, and community updates via WhatsApp
• Coordinating event participation, seva registrations, and volunteer activities
• Generating receipts and financial records as required by trust regulations

3. Online Donations & Payment Processing

Online donations and seva bookings are processed through the 3ionetra platform (gsbmandalthane.3ionetra.com), a third-party service provider. When you make a donation online, your payment information (such as card or UPI details) is collected and processed directly by 3ionetra and their payment gateway. The G.S.B. Mandal does not store or have access to your payment card or banking details. We encourage you to review 3ionetra's own privacy policy for details on how they handle payment data.

4. PAN Card Information

We collect PAN card details solely for the purpose of issuing 80G tax exemption certificates to donors, as mandated by the Income Tax Act of India. PAN details are stored securely and used only for this statutory purpose. They are not shared with any third parties except as required by law.

5. Third-Party Platforms

We use the following third-party platforms to engage with our community:

• WhatsApp: We use WhatsApp groups and the WhatsApp Channel to share event updates, circulars, and community announcements. WhatsApp's own privacy policy governs the use of data on their platform.
• Google Photos: Event photographs are shared via Google Photos albums. These albums may be accessible to anyone with the link. By attending our events, you acknowledge that photographs may be taken and shared in these albums.
• YouTube: Video recordings of events and programs are uploaded to our YouTube playlist. YouTube's privacy policy applies to all content hosted on their platform.
• Blogspot (Blogger): Our blog at gsbmandalthane.blogspot.com is hosted by Google Blogger. Google's privacy policy applies to the blog platform.
• 3ionetra: Our online seva and donation portal. Their privacy and payment policies apply to transactions made on their platform.

6. Cookies & Website Tracking

This website is a static website and does not use cookies, tracking pixels, analytics tools, or any form of automated data collection. We do not track your browsing behaviour on this site. However, third-party platforms linked from this website (such as YouTube, Google Photos, WhatsApp, and 3ionetra) may use their own cookies and tracking mechanisms as described in their respective privacy policies.

7. Data Storage & Security

Member data and donation records are maintained by authorised committee members of The G.S.B. Mandal, Thane. Records are stored in both physical registers and digital formats managed by committee members. While we take reasonable precautions to protect your information, please be aware that as a volunteer-run community trust, our data handling practices are commensurate with the scale and nature of our organisation.

8. Data Sharing

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to any third party. Your data may be shared only in the following circumstances:

• With the 3ionetra platform for processing online donations and seva bookings
• With government or tax authorities as required by law (e.g., for 80G compliance)
• With Sri Kashi Math Samsthan, Varanasi for community coordination purposes

9. Event Photography & Media

Photographs and videos are taken during our events and programs for community documentation and outreach purposes. These may be shared on Google Photos, YouTube, WhatsApp, our blog, and other community channels. By attending our events, you consent to being photographed or recorded. If you have concerns about specific images, please contact us and we will make reasonable efforts to address your request.

10. Your Rights

You may contact us to request access to the personal information we hold about you, to correct inaccurate information, or to request removal of your data from our records (subject to legal and statutory retention requirements). To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details below.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be reflected on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date. We encourage you to review this page periodically.

12. Contact Us

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