Privacy Policy

Introduction

MECDM is a mobile survey and field data-collection app developed and operated by Tattva Foundation. It is a general-purpose platform: any organization, or any individual, can create an account and use the app to complete surveys, monitoring visits, and other structured data-collection activities made available to them — it is not limited to any single organization's staff.

The platform was originally built to support the Meghalaya Early Childhood Development (ECD) Mission's Cluster Learning Lab programme, and that remains one of the surveys available through the app today — but the app itself is designed to be used more broadly, by other organizations and members of the public conducting their own surveys.

This Privacy Policy explains what information the app collects, how it is used, and the choices available to you. The app is intended for use by adults completing surveys on their own behalf or on behalf of an organization; it is not directed at or designed for direct use by children.

Information We Collect

Account information

When you sign in or create an account, we collect your full name, email address, mobile number, and password (stored securely — never in plain text), along with your assigned role and, where applicable, the organization, region, or team you belong to, which determine which surveys and data you can access.

Location information

With your permission, the app records GPS coordinates at the time you submit certain forms, so that the location of a survey response or field visit can be verified. Location is only accessed while you are actively using the app to fill a form — the app does not track your location in the background or when it is closed.

Camera and photos

With your permission, the app lets you capture or select photos to attach to certain form submissions — for example, as supporting evidence for a survey response or visit. Photos you choose to attach are uploaded along with your form submission.

Survey and form data

The forms and surveys within the app collect whatever information the specific survey is designed to capture. Depending on the survey, this may include dates, locations, attendance, structured question-and-answer responses, ratings or observation scores, and other fields configured by the organization administering that survey.

For example, surveys built for the Meghalaya ECD Mission's Cluster Learning Lab programme collect programme activity and observation data related to early-childhood-development monitoring — session dates, venues, attendance, and coaching/mock-session observation scores — entered by an authorized field worker, not collected directly from children.

If you complete a survey on behalf of an organization other than the Meghalaya ECD Mission, that organization is responsible for the specific data its survey collects and how that data is used. This Privacy Policy describes how the MECDM app, as a platform, technically handles that information — how it's transmitted, stored, and who can access it — not the specific purpose each individual organization has for its own survey.

Device and technical information

To keep the app working reliably offline and to sync your work when you're back online, we collect a device identifier generated by the app for your sync queue (not linked to any advertising identifier), the app version for diagnostics, and basic network/connectivity status.

Data stored on your device

The app stores a local, offline copy of your forms, submissions, and reference data — such as location/region lists — on your device, so you can keep working without an internet connection. This data syncs to our server automatically once you're back online. Your login session credentials are stored using your device's secure storage (Android Keystore / iOS Keychain), not in plain text.

How We Use Your Information

We use the information above to authenticate you and control access to the surveys and data appropriate to your account; let you record and submit survey responses, including offline; verify the location and timing of recorded responses; sync your offline work once connectivity is available; generate reports and dashboards for the organization administering the relevant survey; and maintain and improve the app.

We do not use your information for advertising, and we do not sell your information to any third party.

How Information Is Shared

Information you provide is sent to the backend server operated by Tattva Foundation, over an encrypted (HTTPS) connection, and is accessible to the authorized administrators of the survey or organization you're contributing to, for monitoring and reporting purposes. We do not share your information with advertising networks, data brokers, or any other third party, and the app does not include any third-party advertising or analytics SDKs.

Retention & Deletion

Your account and submission data are retained for as long as your account is active, to support the reporting requirements of the survey or organization you contributed to.

You can request deactivation or deletion of your account at any time from within the app: Home screen → side menu → "Delete / Deactivate Account." You can also contact us at the email address below to request that your account and associated data be deleted, subject to any record-keeping requirements the relevant organization is legally obligated to follow.

Security

We take reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your information, including encrypted (HTTPS) transmission between the app and our server, secure OS-level storage of session credentials, and access to survey data restricted to authorized roles.

No method of electronic storage or transmission is 100% secure; while we work to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Children's Privacy

MECDM is intended for use by adults — whether as staff or volunteers of an organization, or members of the public completing a survey on their own behalf — and is not directed at, marketed to, or designed for direct use by children. We do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children through this app.

Some surveys available through the app may involve an adult recording information related to children as part of their subject matter — for example, early-childhood-development monitoring activities. In those cases, the data is entered by the authorized adult conducting the survey, not by children themselves, and the organization administering that survey is responsible for ensuring appropriate consent and compliance with applicable child-data-protection laws for the specific data it collects.

Permissions This App Requests

• Camera — to let you attach photos to certain form submissions.
• Photos / media — to let you select existing photos to attach to forms.
• Location (GPS) — to record where a survey response or visit took place, at the time of submission.
• Storage — to store your offline forms, submissions, and reference data on your device.
• Internet / network state — to sync your data with our server when connectivity is available.

Your Rights & Choices

Depending on your location and applicable law, you may have the right to access the personal information we hold about you, correct inaccurate information, request deletion of your account and associated data (see Retention & Deletion above), and withdraw permissions such as camera or location at any time via your device's app settings — though some features may not work correctly without them.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at the email address below.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we will update the effective date below and, where appropriate, notify you through the app.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how your information is handled, contact Tattva Foundation at info@tattvafoundation.org or visit mecdm.in.