Privacy Policy: Budakattu Mitra

Effective Date:November 29, 2025

Developer: Karnataka State Tribal Research Institute (KSTRI), Govt. of Karnataka

1. Introduction

The Karnataka State Tribal Research Institute (KSTRI) is committed to protecting the privacy of tribal communities using the Budakattu Mitra application. This app is an official tool designed to facilitate the delivery of welfare schemes provided by the Government of Karnataka.

2. Information Sourcing

The information regarding welfare schemes and tribal benefits provided in this app is sourced directly from the Department of Tribal Welfare, Government of Karnataka. This app serves as a digital bridge between the government and the tribal citizens of Karnataka.

3. Information Collection

We collect the following categories of data to provide services:

• User Demographics: Name, age, gender, and tribal affiliation.
• Documentation: Digital copies of caste certificates, income certificates, and other documents required for scheme eligibility.
• Sensitive Data: If applicable, Aadhaar numbers or other government identifiers are collected solely for authentication and service delivery.
• Device Data: Information about your mobile device and app usage to improve system performance.

4. Sensitive Permissions

• Location: The app requests location access to verify the user’s residency within specific tribal settlements to determine eligibility for localized schemes.
• Camera: The app requests camera access solely for the purpose of scanning or photographing documents required for application submissions.

5. Data Usage and Third-Party Sharing

• Purpose: Data is used for authentication, service delivery, and analytics to improve the standard of living for tribal groups.
• No Commercial Sharing: We do not sell or share user data with third-party advertisers or commercial entities.
• Government Sharing: Data may be shared with relevant Karnataka Government departments strictly for processing welfare applications.

6. Data Storage and Security

All data is stored securely on servers managed by the Karnataka State Tribal Research Institute. We use industry-standard encryption and access controls to protect information from unauthorized access.

7. User Rights and Data Deletion

• Access/Update: Users have the right to access and update their demographic data through the app profile.
• Data Deletion: Users may request the deletion of their account and associated data by contacting our support team. To request deletion, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
• Retention: Data is retained only as long as necessary to provide government services in accordance with applicable Indian laws.

8. Contact Information

For questions or concerns regarding this policy, please contact: Director, Karnataka State Tribal Research Institute Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Address: Karnataka State Tribal Research Institute, Mysuru, Government of Karnataka.