Privacy Policy

National Research Center for Orchids (NRCO)
Near Pakyong Airport, Dikling Road, Sikkim – 737106
Contact Person: S.P. Das, Director NRCO Pakyong
Email: [email protected]

Last updated: September 16, 2025

1. Introduction

NRCO (“we”, “us”, “our”) is committed to protecting the privacy of people who use our mobile application and services. This Privacy Policy explains the types of information we collect, why we collect it, how we use and protect it, and your rights.

2. Information We Collect

We collect the following categories of information when you use our app or submit reports to NRCO:

• Personal details: Full name, mobile number.
• Location: Place with pincode (provided by you or derived from location permission).
• Message content: Subject and message text you submit to us.
• Media: Gallery images (pest images) and plant images (photos) you upload or capture using the app.

3. Device Permissions Used

To provide app features we request the following Android permissions. Permissions are used only for the purposes described below:

4. Purpose of Collection

We use the information you provide for the following purposes:

• Research and documentation related to orchids, pests and diseases.
• Pest/plant identification, diagnostic support, and recommendation to users.
• Improving NRCO’s research, extension services and model development.
• Communication with users for clarification, follow-up or sharing findings.

5. How We Share Data

• We do not sell, rent or trade personal data to third parties.
• Data (including images) may be shared with authorized research collaborators, partner institutions, or government agencies strictly for scientific, extension, or regulatory purposes.
• When data or images are used in reports or publications, we will endeavor to remove personally identifiable details. Aggregated or anonymized data may be published for research or policy use.

6. Data Security & Storage

We store data on NRCO-authorized servers and apply reasonable administrative, technical and physical safeguards to protect it. Despite our efforts, no system is completely secure; we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Data Retention

We retain personal information and submitted content only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this policy or as required by law. If you request deletion, we will remove personal identifiers from our systems subject to legal or operational constraints.

8. Your Rights

You may:

• Request access to the personal data you submitted.
• Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Request deletion of your personal data, where applicable.

To exercise these rights, contact us at [email protected]. Please note that we may need to retain certain information for legal or research integrity reasons; we will inform you if full deletion is not possible and why.

9. Children

This app is not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have collected such information, contact us to request deletion.

10. Updates to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The “Last updated” date at the top reflects the most recent revision. Material changes will be posted in-app or on our website.

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11. Contact

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your rights, contact: