In Compliance with Part III of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, and the Norms of Journalistic Conduct of the Press Council of India.

Entity Name: Shetkari Helpline (shetkarihelpline.com) | Official Grievance Email: shetkarihelpline@gmail.com | Effective Date: August 24, 2026 | Jurisdiction: Maharashtra, Republic of India

1. Preamble, Vision, and Institutional Mandate

1.1 Grassroots Agrarian Journalism Mission

Shetkari Helpline (shetkarihelpline.com) is an independent, non-partisan, digital-first agricultural journalism, farmer-welfare research, and rural information publishing platform. Operating from the agricultural heartland of Maharashtra, India, our primary mission is to empower farmers, agrarian researchers, livestock owners, and rural entrepreneurs with timely, scientifically verified, and actionable information regarding crop cultivation techniques, integrated pest management, government subsidy schemes, weather forecasts, APMC mandi rates, and rural economic policies.

1.2 Dedication to Truth, Public Trust, and Accountability

As a digital news and current affairs publisher under the legal purview of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (hereinafter referred to as the ‘IT Rules, 2021’) framed under the Information Technology Act, 2000, Shetkari Helpline is fully dedicated to upholding the highest standards of journalistic integrity, truth, editorial independence, public accountability, and statutory compliance.

Our editorial philosophy is anchored in grassroots rural realities. We believe that credible journalism in the agricultural sector is not merely about reporting events, but about providing verified scientific intelligence that protects farmers from financial exploitation, counterfeit agrochemical products, misleading subsidy promises, and agrarian distress.

2. Statutory Regulatory Framework and Governing Standards

Our editorial processes, journalistic standards, content creation, and publishing operations are strictly governed by and adhere to:

2.1 Information Technology Rules, 2021 (Part III Digital Media Ethics Code)

1. The Code of Ethics under IT Rules, 2021 (Part III, Rules 8 to 18): Adhering to the overarching standards applicable to digital news publishers across India, including compliance with Rule 8, Rule 9, Rule 10, Rule 11, and Rule 12 regarding Code of Ethics and institutional self-regulation.

2.2 Press Council of India (PCI) Norms of Journalistic Conduct

2. Norms of Journalistic Conduct issued by the Press Council of India (PCI): Under the Press Council Act, 1978, upholding accuracy, fairness, independence, decency, avoidance of plagiaristic practices, and editorial integrity in rural reporting.

2.3 Cable Television Networks Regulation Act (Programme Code Standards)

3. Programme Code under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995: Ensuring no content offends good taste, national integrity, public order, decency, or communal harmony, and complying with programming standards established under Section 5.

2.4 Google Publisher E-E-A-T Quality Guidelines

4. Google Publisher Policies & Search Quality Rater Guidelines (E-E-A-T): Providing verified Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness across all agricultural guides, government scheme analyses, and crop protection playbooks.

3. Core Editorial Principles and Journalistic Commitments

3.1 Accuracy, Multi-Tier Fact Verification, and Primary Sourcing

3.1.1 University Research and Scientific Verification Standards

• Every piece of agricultural reporting, chemical pesticide dosage, fertilizer management recommendation, Minimum Support Price (MSP) figure, or government resolution analysis published on Shetkari Helpline undergoes a strict multi-tier verification process against primary, credible, and official sources.
• Primary sources include State Agricultural Universities (MPKV Rahuri, Dr. PDKV Akola, VNMKV Parbhani, DBSKKV Dapoli), the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Central Insecticides Board & Registration Committee (CIBRC), India Meteorological Department (IMD), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, and official Maharashtra Government Gazettes.

3.1.2 Ban on Fabricated Stories, Distortions, and Deceptive Clickbait

• We strictly prohibit the publication of unverified rumors, fabricated stories, distorted facts, manipulated data, or sensationalized clickbait headlines designed to exploit farmer anxiety.

3.1.3 Mandatory Preservation of Editorial Research Records

• Journalists and contributors are required to preserve primary research documentation, interview recordings, lab reports, and Government Resolution PDF copies for a minimum of twelve (12) months following publication.

3.2 Objectivity, Fairness, and Natural Justice

3.2.1 Independent Policy Criticism and Critical Governance Reporting

• Shetkari Helpline operates with complete editorial autonomy, free from political affiliations, ideological bias, corporate agricultural lobbying, or sectarian pressures.
• We critically analyze government policies, welfare programs, and subsidy portals with balanced objectivity—highlighting beneficial opportunities while fearlessly pointing out systemic bottlenecks, application glitches, and administrative delays that affect grassroots farmers.

3.2.2 Right of Reply and Fair Representation Principles

• If an article publishes allegations or critical investigative reports regarding any person, entity, or public office, we uphold the principle of natural justice by providing a fair and reasonable opportunity for the concerned party to present their side (Right of Reply).
• Any official response or rebuttal submitted by a government department, university, or commercial manufacturer will be published with prominent, proportional editorial placement.

3.3 Commercial Independence, Transparency, and Conflict of Interest

3.3.1 Clear Separation of Editorial Reporting from Advertisements

• Our editorial news judgments and agronomic advice are strictly insulated from commercial advertisers, corporate sponsors, and business partnerships.
• Any sponsored content, advertorial, promotional piece, or affiliate recommendation is clearly, visibly, and unambiguously labeled as ‘Sponsored’, ‘Advertisement’, or ‘Commercial Affiliate’ to ensure readers can easily distinguish paid material from independent journalism.

3.3.2 Strict Prohibition on Commercial Kickbacks and Bribery

• Editorial staff and contributors are strictly forbidden from accepting personal gifts, financial incentives, corporate hospitality, free agrochemical samples for commercial endorsement, or kickbacks in exchange for favorable product reviews or biased reporting.

3.4 Protection of Individual Dignity, Privacy, and Defamation Safeguards

• We respect individual privacy and constitutional rights under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. We do not publish defamatory, malicious, libelous, or slanderous allegations against any individual, farmer, or lawful enterprise.
• Investigative reports are based solely on documentary proof, official government records (RTI responses, GRs, court orders), and verified ground investigations.
• Personal grief, private family matters, and medical records of farmers in distress are never exploited for sensationalism or click-driven traffic.

3.5 Protection of Minors, Women, and Distress Reporting Ethics

• In strict compliance with Indian laws (including the POCSO Act and Section 228A of the IPC/BNS), Shetkari Helpline never reveals the identity, photograph, residential address, or family details of victims of sexual offenses, child exploitation, or domestic violence.
• We strictly refrain from glorifying or sensationalizing agrarian distress, farmer suicides, or tragic accidents, ensuring all reporting on mental health and rural distress is accompanied by verified helpline numbers and compassionate editorial framing.

4. Content Restrictions and Prohibited Editorial Material

4.1 National Security, Sovereignty, and Public Order

5. Threatens the sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, defense, security, or public order of the Republic of India, or incites the commission of any cognizable offense.

4.2 Communal Harmony, Non-Discrimination, and Hate Speech Prohibition

6. Promotes communal disharmony, religious hatred, regional hostility, caste discrimination, or violence against any community.

4.3 Fraudulent Schemes, Superstition, and Quackery Ban

7. Spreads fake government subsidy schemes, fraudulent loan waiver promises, phishing links, or financial scams that exploit rural citizens.
8. Advocates, endorses, or promotes superstition, black magic, occult practices, or unscientific and hazardous farming rituals.
9. Violates sub-judice guidelines or constitutes a contempt of court.

5. Editorial Protocols for Investigative Field Journalism

5.1 Public Interest Test for Undercover Investigations

Undercover recordings, whistleblower leaks, and anonymous sources are utilized only when information cannot be obtained through standard reporting methods and where compelling public interest is at stake.

5.2 Laboratory Verification of Counterfeit Agricultural Inputs

All technical claims regarding counterfeit agrochemicals must be substantiated by certified laboratory test reports from accredited SAU / ICAR testing centers or official panchnamas.

5.3 Confidentiality of Rural Whistleblowers

Shetkari Helpline vigorously protects the confidentiality of rural whistleblowers and grassroots farmers who provide sensitive documents exposing corruption.

6. Responsible Deployment of Artificial Intelligence and Automation

To maintain journalistic integrity in the digital era, Shetkari Helpline adheres to transparent standards regarding automated software and Generative AI:

• Mandatory Human Oversight: No article, policy summary, or crop guide is published on Shetkari Helpline without thorough review, fact-checking, and editorial approval by a qualified human editor.
• Visual Authenticity: AI-generated illustrations or informational diagrams are clearly contextualized and never used to misrepresent real agricultural events, government documents, or field conditions.

7. Statutory Three-Tier Grievance Redressal Architecture

In accordance with Rule 11 of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, Shetkari Helpline has established a robust, accessible, and transparent three-tier institutional mechanism to receive, process, and redress grievances from the public regarding any published content:

7.1 Tier I: Internal Grievance Redressal Officer (GRO)

Internal redressal by Shetkari Helpline. Acknowledgment within 24 hours; final decision and disposal within 15 calendar days.

7.2 Tier II: Self-Regulating Body (SRB)

Self-Regulating Body of Digital Publishers: Registered with Ministry of I&B, headed by a retired Supreme Court/High Court judge. Hears appeals against Level I decisions.

7.3 Tier III: Inter-Departmental Committee (Ministry of I&B)

Ministry of Information & Broadcasting: Inter-Departmental Committee (IDC) oversight mechanism providing final administrative oversight.

8. Step-by-Step Public Grievance Filing Procedure

Any person, entity, or authority aggrieved by any content, news report, or article published on Shetkari Helpline may submit a formal complaint by following these steps:

10. Mode of Submission: Complaints must be sent via email to our official Grievance Redressal Officer at shetkarihelpline@gmail.com.
11. Required Information: Include Full Name, Postal Address, Phone Number, Verified Email, Exact Web URL of the article, date, specific quoted clauses objected to, and documentary evidence proving the violation of law.
12. Resolution SLA: The Grievance Officer will issue a written acknowledgment within 24 hours and a reasoned decision within 15 calendar days.
13. Appellate Procedure: If dissatisfied with the Level I decision, the complainant may file an appeal within 15 days to the registered Self-Regulating Body (Level II).

9. Designated Grievance Redressal Officer Contact Details