Kaarmika Privacy Policy

This privacy policy ("Privacy Policy") constitutes a legally binding agreement between you ("you", "your", or "User"), as the user of the Kaarmika Platform, and us as the owner and operator of the Kaarmika Platform. This Privacy Policy governs your use of the Kaarmika Platform and any services offered thereunder ("Services").

You are advised to read this Privacy Policy carefully to understand the nature and purpose of collecting, processing, storing, disclosing, and transferring your personal and sensitive personal data ("Information"). This Privacy Policy also applies to offline interactions such as mail, phone, or in-person communication related to the Services.

Your use of the Kaarmika Platform and Services constitutes your consent to the terms of this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with the terms herein, you should refrain from using the Kaarmika Platform or Services.

This Privacy Policy is published in accordance with the provisions of Rule 3(1) of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, and the applicable provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Indian Contract Act, 1872.

We reserve the right to update or modify this Privacy Policy at our sole discretion. It is your responsibility to periodically review the Privacy Policy to stay informed of any changes. Continued use of the Kaarmika Platform following any updates shall constitute your acceptance of those changes.

You hereby represent and warrant to Company that:

• You have the legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement under the Indian Contract Act, 1872.
• If you provide any Information relating to a third party, you have obtained all necessary authorizations and consents to share such Information and to permit its use by Company in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
• The provision of such Information, and Company's subsequent collection, storage, use, transfer, access, or processing of it, does not violate any applicable law, agreement, charter document, judgment, order, or decree.
• All Information provided by you is true, accurate, current, and complete, and you shall ensure that it remains so throughout your use of the Kaarmika Platform.
• You shall comply with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations while using the Kaarmika Platform and Services, and shall not use the Kaarmika Platform for any unlawful or unauthorized purpose.

1. Definitions

Unless otherwise provided in this Privacy Policy, the terms capitalized in the Privacy Policy shall have the meaning as provided hereunder:

"Sensitive Personal Data or Information" shall mean such personal information which consists of passwords, financial information such as bank account or credit card details, physical, physiological and mental health condition, sexual orientation, medical records and history, biometric information, etc., as defined under the Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011.

"Third Party" shall mean any individual, entity, or service provider other than the Company, including affiliates, vendors, partners, or governmental authorities, who may receive or process Information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

"Kaarmika Platform" shall mean the Kaarmika mobile application and website located at https://kaarmika.com, including all content, services, and functionalities offered thereunder.

"Services" shall mean any offerings, features, functionalities, or interactions provided by the Company through the Kaarmika Platform, including but not limited to job postings, worker-contractor matching, communication tools, and support services.

"User" shall mean any individual or entity who accesses or uses the Kaarmika Platform, including Workers, Contractors, and other registered or unregistered visitors.

"Cookies" shall mean small data files stored on your device by the Kaarmika Platform to enhance user experience, track usage patterns, and deliver personalized content.

2. What Information Do We Collect

A. Information You Provide to Us

We collect personal and business information that you voluntarily provide to us when you register, interact, or transact on the Kaarmika Platform. This includes:

1. Personal Information: Such as your name, email address, mobile number, date of birth, gender, profile photo, and location. This may be collected during account registration, profile creation, or while using our Services.
2. User Information: Including login credentials, geo-location, emergency contacts, and other identifiers necessary for service delivery and account management.
3. Account Information: For company accounts, we may collect company name, branch address, GST and PAN numbers, senior officials' contact details, and banking information such as account number, IFSC code, and branch details.
4. Verification Information: For Workers and Contractors, we may collect government-issued IDs (e.g., Aadhaar, PAN), license details, insurance certificates, and other documents required for verification.
5. Saved Information: Information retained to facilitate future transactions, such as contact details, billing history, and service preferences.
6. Support and Interaction Data: Information you provide when contacting support, reporting issues, submitting ratings, or using in-app messaging.
7. Prohibited Content: You agree not to upload, share, or transmit any content that is offensive, unlawful, harassing, obscene, or otherwise prohibited under applicable laws, including content that threatens national security or public order.

B. Information We Collect Automatically

When you access or use the Kaarmika Platform, we may automatically collect:

1. Transaction Information: Details of work accepted or assigned, timestamps, locations, and payment-related data, subject to applicable laws.
2. Device Information: Technical data such as device identifier (IMEI), manufacturer, model, operating system, preferred language, mobile network, screen interactions, gestures, and scrolling activity. This helps us improve app performance, deliver updates, and provide support.
3. SMS/Text Data: With your permission, we may access SMS data to manage one-time passwords (OTPs), autofill verification codes, and facilitate secure transactions. We do not share this data with third parties except as permitted under this Privacy Policy.
4. Interaction Data: Usage metrics such as frequency of app access, time spent, pages visited, and actions taken. This helps us personalize and optimize your experience.

C. Third-Party and Partner Information

We may receive information about you from third-party service providers, analytics platforms, payment processors, and affiliate entities. This may include identity verification data, usage metrics, and contact details shared in accordance with applicable laws and contractual obligations.

D. Aggregated and Non-Identifiable Data

We may compile aggregated statistical or demographic data that does not directly identify you. If such data is combined with personal information in a way that could identify you, it will be treated as personal data under this Privacy Policy.

3. Use of Information Collected

Our primary objective in collecting your Information is to enhance your experience and ensure the secure, lawful, and efficient operation of the Kaarmika Platform. Subject to this Privacy Policy and applicable laws, we may use your Information for the following purposes:

1. To provide, operate, and maintain access to the Kaarmika Platform and its features.
2. To personalize your experience, including content, recommendations, and interface preferences.
3. To remember your settings, preferences, and saved data for future sessions.
4. To verify your identity, credentials, and eligibility to use or offer services via the Kaarmika Platform.
5. To conduct background checks and validate documents submitted by Workers, Contractors, and third parties.
6. To communicate with you via push notifications, emails, SMS, and in-app messages regarding your account, transactions, updates, and support queries.
7. To respond to inquiries, resolve issues, and provide customer support.
8. To monitor feature usage, analyse behavioural patterns, and optimize service offerings.
9. To conduct internal research, generate usage reports, and improve app performance.
10. To analyse frequency, duration, and engagement metrics for better user experience.
11. To detect, investigate, and prevent fraud, abuse, or unauthorized access.
12. To ensure the integrity, safety, and lawful use of the Kaarmika Platform.
13. To enforce our Terms of Use and other policies.
14. To send promotional content, offers, and service updates, subject to your communication preferences.
15. To conduct surveys, contests, and referral programs.
16. To comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal obligations.
17. To cooperate with law enforcement or regulatory authorities when required.
18. To facilitate integrations with third-party services such as payment gateways, verification providers, and analytics platforms.
19. To enable features powered by external APIs or SDKs, subject to their respective privacy policies.
20. To display, moderate, and respond to ratings, reviews, and feedback submitted by users.
21. To use anonymized or aggregated feedback for service improvement and marketing.
22. For audits, data analysis, troubleshooting, and operational efficiency.
23. To maintain business continuity and system reliability.
24. For any other purpose permitted under applicable law or with your explicit consent.

4. Information sharing and disclosure

We do not sell, rent, or share your personal information with third parties for their marketing purposes. Any communication from us will be strictly service related or based on your explicit consent.

We may disclose your information under the following circumstances:

1. Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or asset sale, your information may be transferred to the successor entity. We will notify you via email and/or a prominent notice on our platform regarding any changes in ownership or data usage, along with your available choices.
2. Service Providers and Contractors: We engage trusted third parties to perform specific functions (e.g., analytics, payment processing, customer support). These entities are contractually bound to use your information solely for the intended purpose and maintain confidentiality.
3. Legal Obligations: We may disclose your information if required by law, regulation, subpoena, or to protect our legal rights or respond to lawful requests by public authorities.
4. Aggregated Data: We may share anonymized or aggregated data that does not identify you personally, for analytical or business purposes.

5. Updating information and account cancellations

You have the right, upon request, to access and review any Personal Information you have provided to us. If you are a registered User, you may update or correct your Personal Information at any time by logging into your account on the Kaarmika Platform or by contacting our support team at support@kaarmika.com. It is your responsibility to ensure that any Personal Information you provide remains accurate, complete, and current. If inaccurate or incomplete data prevents us from delivering Services effectively, we reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account, with prior notice sent to your registered email address.

You may choose not to submit certain identifiable Personal Information; however, this may restrict your ability to access specific features or functionalities of the Kaarmika Platform. Disabling or deleting certain data may limit access to some Services or features. To cancel your account or request deletion of your Personal Information, please contact our support team. We will take reasonable steps to verify and process such requests in accordance with applicable law.

We retain Personal Information and usage data (including geo-location) for as long as your account remains active or as necessary to provide Services. Upon account termination, we may retain such data for up to 3 years to comply with legal obligations, prevent fraud, and ensure business continuity. After this period, the data will be securely deleted or anonymized.

6. Storage and Security

We implement commercially reasonable technical and organizational safeguards to securely store all Personal Information collected through the Kaarmika Platform. These safeguards include encryption, firewalls, secure server infrastructure, and access controls. Our databases may be hosted on servers located within or outside our direct operational control, including infrastructure managed by third-party hosting providers. By submitting Personal Information on the Kaarmika Platform, you consent to its transfer, storage, and processing across jurisdictions, including destinations outside India. Our servers are protected by firewalls and password-restricted access protocols. However, you acknowledge and accept that no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is entirely secure. While We strive to protect your Personal Information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security. We disclaim liability for any unauthorized access, transmission errors, or acts of third parties beyond our reasonable control. Your use of the Kaarmika Platform is at your own risk. In the event We become aware of a breach affecting the security of your Personal Information, we will take appropriate remedial action and notify you in accordance with applicable law.

7. Confidentiality

As a registered User, you are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials, including your password. You agree not to share your login details with any third party. We treat your Personal Information as confidential and restrict access to employees, agents, consultants, and service providers who require such access to perform their duties in connection with the Services. These individuals are contractually bound to maintain confidentiality and use the Personal Information solely for authorized purposes.

Disclosure of Personal Information may occur under the following circumstances: (i) where required by applicable law, regulation, or legal process; (ii) to comply with requests from regulatory, supervisory, or governmental authorities; (iii) to our shareholders, managers, advisors, or affiliates, provided such disclosure is subject to confidentiality obligations no less stringent than those set forth in this Privacy Policy; (iv) to employees or representatives on a need-to-know basis, subject to written confidentiality agreements. We do not disclose your Personal Information for marketing or promotional purposes without your explicit consent.

8. Cookies

Kaarnika may utilize Cookies that are stored on the User device. Cookies typically contain an anonymous unique identifier and are accessible only by the Kaarmika Platform that placed them. These Cookies are used to enhance the User experience by storing preferences, tracking usage patterns, and customizing Kaarmika Platform Content based on the User browser type and other relevant information.

Users may configure their browser settings to refuse the placement of Cookies. However, disabling Cookies may limit access to certain features or functionalities of the Kaarmika Platform. Unless explicitly disabled by the User, Kaarnika may automatically issue Cookies upon the User access to or use of the Kaarmika Platform.

Kaarnika's Privacy Policy does not govern the use of Cookies by third-party service providers, affiliates, or advertisers. Kaarnika does not have access to or control over such Third-Party Cookies. Users are encouraged to review the respective privacy policies of such third parties for further information.