Safeguarding Policy

Last Updated: August 27, 2026

Sewa Bhav Foundation (“Sewa Bhav Foundation”, “we”, “our” or “us”) is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare, dignity, rights and wellbeing of children, young people and vulnerable adults who come into contact with our programs, activities, services, volunteers, staff members, interns, consultants, partners and other representatives.

We are committed to maintaining a safe, respectful and inclusive environment and have a zero-tolerance approach towards abuse, neglect, exploitation, harassment, discrimination and other forms of harm.

1. Purpose

The purpose of this Safeguarding Policy is to establish general principles and responsibilities for preventing, identifying, reporting and responding appropriately to safeguarding concerns.

This Policy is intended to help ensure that all individuals associated with Sewa Bhav Foundation understand their responsibility to protect children, young people and vulnerable adults from abuse, neglect, exploitation and other forms of harm.

2. Scope

This Policy applies, where relevant, to individuals associated with Sewa Bhav Foundation, including:

• Employees and staff members.
• Volunteers.
• Interns.
• Consultants and trainers.
• Board members or other authorized representatives.
• Partner organizations and their representatives involved in relevant activities.
• Visitors or other individuals participating in organizational programs or activities.

All individuals covered by this Policy are expected to act responsibly and in accordance with applicable safeguarding requirements.

3. Safeguarding Principles

Sewa Bhav Foundation is committed to:

• Creating and maintaining safe environments.
• Respecting the dignity, rights and wellbeing of every individual.
• Promoting equality, inclusion and non-discrimination.
• Preventing abuse, neglect, exploitation and other forms of harm.
• Maintaining appropriate professional and personal boundaries.
• Taking safeguarding concerns seriously.
• Responding to concerns in a timely and responsible manner.
• Handling safeguarding information sensitively and appropriately.

4. Prohibited Conduct

The following types of conduct are strictly prohibited in connection with activities associated with Sewa Bhav Foundation:

• Physical abuse or violence.
• Sexual abuse, sexual exploitation or sexual harassment.
• Emotional or psychological abuse.
• Neglect or deliberate failure to provide appropriate care where there is a responsibility to do so.
• Exploitation or misuse of a person’s vulnerability.
• Bullying, intimidation or harassment.
• Discrimination or unfair treatment.
• Inappropriate or exploitative relationships.
• Conduct that violates appropriate professional or personal boundaries.
• Any conduct that may place a child, young person, vulnerable adult or other individual at risk of harm.

5. Responsibilities

All individuals covered by this Policy are expected to:

• Follow applicable safeguarding policies, procedures and reasonable instructions.
• Maintain appropriate professional and personal boundaries.
• Treat beneficiaries, participants and others with dignity and respect.
• Remain alert to possible safeguarding concerns or risks.
• Report safeguarding concerns, allegations or incidents promptly through the appropriate channel.
• Respect confidentiality and privacy while sharing information responsibly where reporting or protection is required.
• Cooperate with reasonable safeguarding-related reviews or enquiries.

6. Reporting Safeguarding Concerns

Any safeguarding concern, allegation, incident or reasonable suspicion of abuse, neglect, exploitation or other serious harm should be reported as soon as reasonably possible through the appropriate organizational channel.

Reports should include relevant factual information available to the reporting person. Individuals should avoid conducting their own investigation unless specifically authorized or required to do so.

Sewa Bhav Foundation will seek to handle reported concerns responsibly, sensitively and in accordance with the nature of the concern, applicable procedures and relevant legal or safeguarding requirements.

7. Confidentiality and Information Sharing

Information relating to safeguarding concerns may be sensitive and will be handled with appropriate care.

Information will generally be shared only with individuals who have a legitimate need to know or where disclosure is necessary for safeguarding, legal, regulatory or other appropriate purposes.

Confidentiality does not prevent information from being shared where doing so is reasonably necessary to protect an individual from harm or where disclosure is required by applicable law.

8. Protection from Retaliation

Sewa Bhav Foundation does not tolerate retaliation, victimization or unfair treatment against any person who raises a safeguarding concern in good faith or participates appropriately in a safeguarding-related review or enquiry.

Any person who believes that they have experienced retaliation in connection with a safeguarding report should raise the matter through the appropriate organizational channel.

9. Training and Awareness

Where appropriate to the nature of a role or activity, individuals may be provided with relevant safeguarding information, guidance or training.

Additional safeguarding requirements may apply to individuals who work directly with children, young people or vulnerable adults.

10. Relationship with Other Policies

This Safeguarding Policy should be read together with other relevant policies and guidelines of Sewa Bhav Foundation, including, where applicable:

• Child Protection Policy.
• Volunteer Policy.
• Privacy Policy.
• Applicable Code of Conduct or organizational guidelines.

Additional procedures or requirements may apply depending on the nature of a particular activity, role or program.

11. Policy Review and Updates

This Safeguarding Policy may be reviewed and updated from time to time to reflect changes in organizational activities, practices or applicable requirements.

Any updated version will be published on this page with a revised Last Updated date.

12. Contact Us

For questions or concerns regarding this Safeguarding Policy, please contact:

Sewa Bhav Foundation
Email: info@sewabhav.org
Helpline: +91 94581 03242
Website: www.sewabhav.org
Location: Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India