In short
- Membership and all services in the app are free. Registering does not guarantee any scholarship, kit or other benefit.
- Give true information and keep your OTP private. False information can lead to cancelled benefits and closure of your account.
- Use the Service respectfully and only for its intended purpose.
- BVS is a community organisation, not a government office. We help with requests but cannot promise any outcome.
Accepting these terms
These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") are an agreement between you and Banjara Virasat Sangh ("BVS", "we", "us"). They apply to the Banjara Virasat Sangh Android app and the website https://banjaravirasat.org.in, together called the "Service".
By registering, signing in or otherwise using the Service, you agree to these Terms and to our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the Service. Some programmes, such as a particular scholarship, may have their own additional rules, which will be shown to you when you apply.
About BVS and the Service
BVS is a community organisation based in Yavatmal, Maharashtra, India, working for the social, cultural, educational and economic development of the Banjara community. Through the Service you can:
- register as a member and receive a digital member ID card;
- manage your profile and family members in My Corner;
- apply for scholarships and education programmes and check hall tickets and results;
- submit requests and complaints and track our response; and
- read articles, announcements, events and media about the community.
BVS is not a government body. Membership of BVS does not give you any government status, certificate or entitlement.
Who can use the Service
- You must be at least 18 years old to register as a member on your own.
- A person under 18 may be registered for a scholarship or education programme, or added as a family member, only by or with the consent of a parent or guardian. The parent or guardian accepts these Terms on the minor's behalf.
- You may register only yourself and family members you are authorised to register. Do not register anyone without their knowledge.
Your account and OTP
- Your account is linked to your mobile number and verified by a one-time password (OTP) sent by SMS.
- Keep your OTP private. BVS office-bearers will never ask you for it. Anyone who has your OTP can act in your account.
- You are responsible for activity in your account. Tell us at info@banjaravirasat.org straight away if you think someone else has used it.
- If you change your mobile number, update it in My Corner so that you keep access. Numbers left inactive may be reassigned by your telecom operator.
- One person should hold only one member account.
Giving true information
You agree that the information and documents you give us, including marksheets and supporting documents, are true, complete and your own or submitted with permission. Keep your details up to date.
If we find that information or a document is false, forged or misleading, we may reject the application, cancel or recover any benefit given, suspend or close the account, and where required, report the matter to the authorities.
Member ID card
- The member ID card shows that you are a registered member of BVS. It is not a government identity document and must not be used as proof of identity, address, caste or eligibility for any government scheme.
- The card remains the property of BVS. Do not alter, copy for someone else, or misuse it, including to claim that you hold a position in BVS that you do not hold.
- The QR code on the card lets anyone who scans it confirm your membership. We may cancel a card if membership ends or the card is misused.
Scholarships and welfare programmes
- Scholarships, exams, welfare kits and other programmes depend on eligibility rules, available funds and selection decided by BVS for each programme. Applying does not guarantee selection.
- Decisions of the BVS selection committee on eligibility, marks and selection are final, subject to the grievance process in section 17.
- Benefits cannot be transferred, sold or exchanged for cash unless the programme says so.
- We may change, postpone or cancel a programme when needed, and will inform applicants through the Service or by SMS.
- For kit distribution, a delivery photo and time are recorded as proof of delivery.
Requests and complaints
- You can submit requests and complaints about community matters. BVS will try to review them, guide you and, where appropriate, follow up with the concerned office.
- We cannot guarantee any particular result or timeline, and we do not act as your lawyer or legal representative.
- For emergencies, contact the police (112) or the relevant emergency service directly. The Service is not an emergency channel.
- Do not submit false complaints or complaints meant to harass or defame anyone.
Acceptable use
When using the Service, you must not:
- impersonate anyone or register another person without their consent;
- upload content that is unlawful, obscene, hateful, defamatory, threatening, or that promotes violence or discrimination between communities;
- upload another person's photos, documents or personal information without permission;
- use the Service or member data for commercial promotion, political campaigning, spam, or any purpose other than the one it was given for;
- copy, scrape or download member data, or try to access accounts or data that are not yours;
- interfere with the Service, bypass OTP or other security measures, upload viruses, or overload our servers; or
- break any law in force in India.
Office-bearers and volunteers who can see member data must use it only for their assigned BVS work and keep it confidential.
Content you submit
You keep ownership of the photos, documents, articles and other content you submit. You give BVS a free, non-exclusive permission to store, use and display that content only as needed to run the Service and the programme it was submitted for. For articles, event or community content you submit for publication, this permission includes showing it publicly with your name and photo, and sharing it on BVS social media.
We may review, edit for length or clarity, decline or remove any content that breaks these Terms or is unsuitable for a community platform.
Our content and name
The BVS name, logo, design of the Service, ID card design and content created by BVS belong to BVS or are used with permission. You may share our public articles and announcements with a link back to the Service. You may not use our name or logo to suggest that BVS endorses you or your activity, or to create fake ID cards, letters or certificates.
Third-party services and links
The Service may contain links to, or embedded content from, other websites and services such as YouTube, news websites and government portals. We do not control them and are not responsible for their content or practices. Their own terms and privacy policies apply.
Disclaimers and liability
We work to keep the Service accurate and available, but it is provided "as is" and "as available". We do not promise that it will always be available, error-free, or free of delays in SMS or OTP delivery, which depend on telecom networks. Information about government schemes, events or other matters is given for general guidance; please confirm with the official source before acting on it.
To the extent allowed by law, BVS, its office-bearers and volunteers are not liable for any indirect or consequential loss, or for loss caused by incorrect information you gave, misuse of your account by someone who had your OTP, or events outside our reasonable control. Nothing in these Terms limits any right you have that cannot be limited under Indian law.
Suspension and closure
- You may stop using the Service at any time and ask us to delete your account as described in our Privacy Policy.
- We may suspend or close an account, or refuse registration, if these Terms are broken, if information is false, or to protect members or the Service. Where reasonable, we will tell you why and give you a chance to respond.
- Sections that by nature should continue, such as those on accuracy of information, content and liability, remain in effect after an account is closed.
Governing law and disputes
These Terms are governed by the laws of India. We encourage you to first raise any dispute with us using the contact details below so we can try to resolve it amicably. If it cannot be resolved, the courts at Yavatmal, Maharashtra will have exclusive jurisdiction.
Changes to these terms
We may update these Terms from time to time. The "Effective" date at the top shows the latest version. If a change is significant, we will inform members through the app, website or SMS before it takes effect. Continuing to use the Service after that means you accept the updated Terms.