Privacy Policy

Stone International is a proprietorship concern owned by Sunil Chowdhary as the sole proprietor. The head office and all branch offices of the proprietorship concern 'Stone International' are located in India. Usage of this website is governed by applicable laws in India. Stone International deals globally and therefore in line with international practices the proprietor of Stone International finds it necessary to display a privacy policy to inform visitors how Stone International and its proprietor Sunil Chowdhary use the visitors' personal information that may be collected automatically or submitted voluntarily. Voluntary submission is through the contact form or other contact options offered by us to the visitor. This also includes information related to your past use of our products and services. This policy does not apply to the practices of companies that Stone International and / or its proprietor Sunil Chowdhary do not own or control, or to people that Stone International or its proprietor Sunil Chowdhary do not employ or manage.

The following blogs maintained by our proprietor Sunil Chowdhary are under our control and therefore this Privacy Policy applies to these blogs as well:-
1) Journey of stone through time
2) SI Financials
There are certain points applicable exclusively to these blogs in addition to the Privacy Policy on this page. Therefore please read the Privacy Policy post on each of these blogs in case you visit them.

We use third-party advertising companies to serve ads when you visit our website. These third party advertising companies may serve ads that are contextual in nature based on the topic of our relevant web page or behavioral ads based on the interests of the visitor. Behavioral technology tracks a user's behavior on the Web, including sites visited, length of visits, content read, and searches made. All this data is then analyzed and a behavioral pattern is produced for a user which classifies that user by his or her online demographic. Behavioral ad networks then serve targeted ads that are relevant to that online demographic. These companies may use information (not including your name, address, email address, or telephone number or any Personally Identifiable Information [PII] defined in subsequent paragraphs) about your visits to this and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices about not having this information used by these companies, please go through details in the subsequent paragraphs carefully.

Currently we have made arrangement with Google through its Adsense program to serve ads on this website that may be based on the interest of the visitor and / or the contents of our website.

• Google uses the DoubleClick DART cookie that enables it to serve ads to our visitors based on their visit to our site and other sites on the Internet.

• Visitors may opt out of the use of the DART cookie by visiting the Google ad and content network privacy policy.

• Links to Opt out procedures are also available on the DoubleClick DART cookie pages.

Information Collection and Use:-

Definitions and explanations:-

Personally Identifiable Information (PII):-
'Personally identifiable information' is any information that can identify or locate a particular person, including but not limited to Name, Address, Telephone Number, Email address, Social Security Number, Income Tax Permanent Account Number (PAN), Election Commission Voter ID Card Number, Driving License Number, DEMAT account number, Director Identification Number, Bank Account Number or Credit Card number. Google, its advertisers or its third party service providers do not collect PII of the visitor during their visit to our website.

Non Personally Identifiable Information (Non-PII):-
'Non-personally identifiable information' is information that cannot identify a particular person. This type of information includes a user's Internet Service Provider, a computer's operating system and browser type, and a unique DoubleClick DART cookie ID. DoubleClick's ad-serving and search products utilize non-PII. Some of their clients may associate PII that you have given them (for example, a customer number, if you have registered at or purchased from their websites), with their advertising campaigns. Although this customer number may be passed from the client to DoubleClick's ad servers during the ad delivery process, DoubleClick cannot recognize this information as PII and cannot link it to any person.

Sensitive Information:-
'Sensitive Information' categorically includes but is not limited to data related to an individual's health or medical condition, sexual behavior or orientation, or detailed personal finances, information that appears to relate to children under the age of 13 at the time of data collection; and PII otherwise protected under federal or state law (for example, cable subscriber information or video rental records). Google or DoubleClick do not collect or use any 'sensitive information' to target Internet advertisements.

Cookies:-
A 'cookie' is a small text file containing a string of alphanumeric characters. There are two types of cookies: a persistent cookie and a session cookie. A persistent cookie gets entered by your Web browser into the cookie folder on your computer's hard drive. A persistent cookie remains in that cookie folder, which is maintained and governed by your Web browser, after you close your browser program. A session cookie is temporary and disappears after you close your browser. DoubleClick's ad-serving and paid search listing ('DART Search') products utilize the same cookie: the DART cookie. The DART cookie is a persistent cookie and consists of the name of the domain that set the cookie ('ad.doubleclick.net'), the lifetime of the cookie, and a 'value.' DoubleClick's DART technology generates a unique series of characters for the 'value' portion of the cookie.

Web Beacons:-
Web beacons are small strings of HTML code that are placed in a Web page. They are sometimes called 'clear GIFs' (Graphics Interchange Format) or 'pixel tags.' Web beacons are most often used in conjunction with cookies. DoubleClick uses Web beacons in connection with its products and services, including ad serving and paid search listings ('DART Search'). Because a Web beacon is only 1 pixel high by 1 pixel wide, it appears invisible on your computer screen. If Web beacons were made larger (e.g., 100 pixels high by 100 pixels wide), it would take much longer for your Web page to load and would clutter up the page that you have requested.

Ad-serving:-
In order to support their content without charging visitors, many websites sell advertising space on their Web pages. Companies like DoubleClick provide technology for the websites and advertisers to use to display ads on the websites. DoubleClick's ad servers work at the direction - and on behalf - of their clients. Our website has permitted Google to serve ads of their clients on our website. Google in turn also uses DoubleClick's technology to serve ads on our website.

When you visit a website, your computer's Internet browser transmits a 'request' to that website's server, 'asking' that server to send you the Web page that you are seeking. Most Web pages contain components that are pulled from different sources. For example, a Web page at a news site may get its weather section from one provider, its sports results from a different source, and advertisements from other servers.

If the website is using DoubleClick's technology to display ads on its site, the Web page will contain coding that directs your browser to fill the ad space on the Web page with content from one of DoubleClick's ad servers. DoubleClick's clients select the format, content, and location of the ads, as well as the criteria for controlling which ads to show and when to show them. DoubleClick's ad-serving technology uses a cookie to help clients determine what ads to display. When a 'call' is received by DoubleClick's ad servers, the server checks to see if the 'calling' browser has sent a cookie with the request for advertising. If the server doesn't 'see' either a unique DoubleClick cookie or an opt-out cookie, after 'testing' to see whether the browser will accept cookies, the server sets a unique DoubleClick ad cookie. If the browser already has a unique DoubleClick ad cookie, the server 'recognizes' the cookie and uses the unique ID for targeting and reporting purposes as specified by the DoubleClick client. If the browser has an opt-out DoubleClick cookie, the server uses only the non-cookie related information that is automatically transmitted in the Internet environment (e.g., browser type, Internet service provider, and information about the general content of the site or page displayed on your browser) to determine which ad to show. Sometimes Web beacons are used in conjunction with the DART cookie when clients want more versatile targeting or reporting capabilities.

Information Collected by DoubleClicks's cookies:-
Each time one of DoubleClick's ad servers receives a request for an ad or for a Web beacon, information about the request received and the ad or Web beacon served - for example, the date, the time, the website to which the ad or image was delivered, the cookie ID to which the ad was shown, the operating system which the browser was using - will be recorded.

How is the information collected by DoubleClick's cookies used?:-
Information collected through these cookies is not used by Double Click as it is the property of their customer. Although that information may be logged on a DoubleClick server, DoubleClick's relationship with the client (Google) is that of an agent or processor. Consequently DoubleClick does not own that information and cannot, therefore, use that information for its own business purposes or in any way not authorized by the relevant client. DoubleClick clients do, however, give them permission to use statistical or aggregate information derived from their use of the technology - e.g., statistics about the number of ads served through the technology per month or analyses about, for example, what time of day is the best time to target certain types of ads. Please read the Privacy Policy of Google to know how Google deals with information collected through DoubleClick cookies.

Other cookies used by our website?
In addition to Google our ISP hosting our website also places cookies to collect aggregated demographic information that may be classified as non personally identifiable information. We may also use services of third parties to collect such information on our behalf by placing cookies on your computer. Stone International or its ISP Hosting the website collect only Non Personally Identifiable Information using cookies. In case of any change in agreement with the ISP in policy of data collection, such changes will be with prospective effect and Stone International will notify such changes on this website. Stone International has not authorised any third party to collect your Personally Identifiable Information or Sensitive Information during your visit to this website.

Opting out of cookies:-
You may opt out of these cookies by:-

1. Visiting the Google website and reading the Google ad and content network privacy policy.

2. Visiting DoubleClick Opt Out Page.

3. Using the "OPT OUT" link available on the top of the right hand side column in this page.

4. To eliminate cookies you may have currently accepted, and to deny or limit cookies in the future, please follow one of these procedures: IMPORTANT: IF YOU DELETE YOUR OPT-OUT COOKIE, YOU WILL NEED TO OPT-OUT AGAIN. IF YOUR BROWSER BLOCKS ALL OR THIRD-PARTY COOKIES, YOU WILL BLOCK THE SETTING OF OPT-OUT COOKIES.

• If you are using Internet Explorer 6.0+, go to the Tools menu, then to Internet Options, then to the Privacy tab. This version of Internet Explorer is the first to use P3P to distinguish between types of cookies. P3P uses standardized privacy statements made by the cookie issuer to manage your acceptance of cookies. Under the 'Privacy' tab, click on the 'Advanced' button. Select 'Override automatic cookie handling' and choose whether you want to accept, block or be prompted for 'First-party' and 'Third-party Cookies.' If you want to block all cookies coming from DoubleClick's doubleclick.net domain, go to the 'Web Sites' section under the 'Privacy' tab and click the 'Edit' button. In the 'Address of Web site' field, enter 'doubleclick.net,' or 'stoneint.in' or any website from which you wish to block cookies. Select 'Block,' click OK (menu will disappear); click OK again and you will be back to the browser.

• If you are using Netscape 6.0+, go to 'Edit' in the menu bar, click on 'Preferences,' click on 'Advanced,' and select the 'Cookies' field. Now check either the box that says, 'Warn me before accepting a cookie' or 'Disable cookies.' Click on 'OK.' Now go to your 'Start' button, click on 'Find,' click on 'Files and Folders,' type 'cookies.txt' into the search box that appears, and click 'Find Now.' When the search results appear, drag all files listed, into the 'Recycle Bin.' Now shut down and restart your Netscape. Depending on your earlier choice you will either be prompted by new cookie sets or no cookies will be set or received.

• If you are using Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Opera or Google Chrome, please go to their websites to find out how to disable cookies in those programs.

Other automatically collected information:-
Our feedback form stores the IP address of the person submitting the form. In case visitor sends us email, we store the SMTP information and IP addresses delivered in the email sent to us. We use IP addresses, with the help of a business partner, to determine location of visitor, analyze trends, administer the website, track users' movements, and gather broad demographic information for aggregate use. IP addresses are not linked to Personal Information. Besides IP address, we also collect information like browser type and operating system used by the visitor. This information helps us make future improvement to our website. In case you desire that we do not collect this information, please use other contact options to get in touch with us.

Instant Messaging Options in our Contact Page:-
We have provided links and widgets in our contact page to following instant messaging service providers.
1) Yahoo Messenger
2) Google 'Talk' Service
3) Skype Messenger
4) Windows Live Messenger by MSN.
We may also add more Instant Messaging options in future. These services indicate our online presence status and facilitate immediate exchange of text messages and files and if you have the required software installed in your computer, voice messages or web camera images can also be transmitted to us. However these services place a cookie file in your web browser and may also disclose your online presence to us whenever we use these services ourselves. You may disable cookies in your web browser and limit functionality of these applications if you desire. If you are a registered user of any of these services, we assume that you have read the privacy policy and terms of use of the service provider before you proceed to login and use the service. In case you register with these service providers or login as anonymous, please read the privacy policy and terms of use these service providers may display in their websites or within the applications as you will additionally be bound by them. If you do not wish to disclose your Online Presence, please adjust the messaging application or settings accordingly.

However, please note that in case you wish to use the instant messaging service, we have no contract with the service providers regarding data collection and they may use cookies as per their individual privacy policy documents. Please do take time to read their policy and follow their opting out procedures as detailed by them. In case you are not satisfied with their policies, it is recommended you do not use the instant messaging service. These links / widgets are provided on an as is what is basis and we assume no responsibility for the data collection policies of these service providers once you invoke their software. Instant Messaging Services providers do not share any information of your usage of their services with us.

How Stone International handles information submitted by you:-
The Personally Identifiable Information that you submit to us or the Sensitive Information that you may submit at your discretion is used by us for our own purpose and not shared with any third party. We may use the information to contact you with offers. In case you do not wish to be contacted by us, please send us email with REMOVE as the subject line and we will do the needful. This is not applicable in case you have existing relationship with us and accounts are not finalized. We will retain information for our use only for as long as we need it. In case there is lack of interest or no response for prolonged periods from the customer or visitor, we may delete information submitted permanently and visitor will have to resubmit data under the effective Privacy Policy on that date. If we have any financial dealings with the visitor, we will have to retain the identifying information as directed by the Central Board of Direct Taxes, Central Board of Excise, Customs & Sevice Tax or the Commercial / Sales Tax / VAT authorities of the states in India where we have our offices. Information regarding financial transactions has to be retained by us as a hard copy and / or as data in our accounts software and / or database files and / or hard copies as a portable document file on any media that may in addition to hard copy printouts or verbatim books of account also include CDs, DVDs, Pen Drives, Hard Drives or Floppy Discs, for a period of eight years from the end of the assessment year relevant to the transaction date. Thereafter, all records other than the ledger accounts can be destroyed. The ledger account needs to be retained upto sixteen years from the end of the assessment year relevant to transaction date after which it can be destroyed. In case there is a financial investigation of accounts, information has to be retained till the investigations are over or the expiry of the statutory period specified above, whichever occurs later. In case any or all the authorities make changes to these rules, the information will be retained for the number of years specified that will be the highest.

Stone International may share personal information about you with government authorities if we believe it is necessary or are compelled by law to share information in order to investigate, prevent, or take action regarding illegal activities, suspected fraud, situations involving potential threats to the physical safety of any person, situations involving potential threats to the sovereignty of India, situations involving potential threats of terrorism against India or the people of India anywhere in the world, violations of our terms of use, or as otherwise required by law, in particular the Information Technology Act 2000 enforced by the Government of India as amended from time to time. In case of revision or amendments to Information Technology Act 2000 or enactment of any new law in India to govern the usage of this website, such revisions or enactments will prevail.

If the visitor uses fictitious name(s) and / or email address(es) in our Feeback form on the contact page and uses the feedback form or any part of this website with the intention of harming our website, the computer network of our ISP or the computer network of our web host or indulges in spamming or other criminal activities or acting in violation of our Terms of Use while using our feedback form or any part of our website, this privacy policy will be void for the offending visitor and we will share all information collected about the offending visitor with enforcing authorities to track down the offending visitor and take action against the offending visitor to the fullest extent of applicable laws.

In case the proprietorship business or goodwill of 'STONE INTERNATIONAL' is sold / transferred by the proprietor to a new owner (whether an individual, a sole proprietorship, a parternship firm, a limited liability partnership, a company, an incorporated entity under any law or any artificial judicial person) or in case there is a change in the business constitution and the proprietorship concern is converted to a partnership firm, a limited liability partnership or a company, reasonable precaution will be taken by the proprietor to ensure that this privacy policy continues to be adhered to by the new owner / organisation. Disclosure regarding change in constitution will be notified in this website.

Please read this privacy policy on each visit to our website. We may update this policy and display the same in this website without individual notice to you and such posting will be deemed to have been read by you regarding 'Non Personally Identifiable Information'. For Personally Identifiable Information and Sensitive Information (if submitted by the visitor) any change to the Privacy Policy will be effective only for data submitted to us after revision of the Privacy Policy. The existing Privacy Policy prior to revision will continue to be applicable to the Personally Identifiable Information and / or Sensitive Information already submitted prior to the revision of the Privacy Policy. Therefore, it is recommended that you read this privacy policy before you submit any Personally Identifiable Information or Sensitive Information. In case we require the revised Privacy Policy to be effective on already submitted Personally Identifiable Information or Sensitive Information or we require the revised policy for such information to be applicable with a retrospective date, we will individually seek consent of the visitor submitting such information. In case of any disagreement by the visitor we will delete the information from our database and in case such visitors wish to seek our services again, required information will have to be resubmitted under the revised privacy policy.

Visitor as referred to in the preceding paragraghs also includes an incorporated entity under any law, an association of persons, a body of individuals or an artificial judicial person recognised by any jurisdiction provided data is submitted on behalf of the entity by the person / persons legally mandated / authorised to act on behalf of such entities.

The revision to our previous Privacy Policy was required due to addition in methods of collection of information to determine the interests of the visitor. The revision is by means of addition to the previous document and there is no material change in our revised Privacy Policy on this date for Personally Identifiable Information and Sensitive Information. Therefore archiving the previous Privacy Policy is not necessary. However, in case of any change with respect to the Privacy Policy for such information, the previous document will be archived on this website.

In case you have any concerns with respect to this privacy policy, please contact the owner on +91-9825112695 or inform us by email to our email address updated on our Contact page expressing your concerns.

This Privacy Policy will be effective today and is applicable to the launch of our revised website on April 1, 2009.

Sunil Diwanchand Chowdhary, Proprietor,
Stone International
Mumbai, India: March 30, 2009.

This privacy policy has not undergone any revision and continues to be valid after updating this website on June 15, 2009.