The Centre has so far documented the cultural heritage of over 4.7 lakh villages under the ‘Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar’ (MGMD) initiative, aimed at mapping India’s intangible cultural assets, the Ministry of Culture informed Parliament on Monday.
The programme is being implemented by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) under the National Mission on Cultural Mapping (NMCM). Launched in June 2023 as part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’, the MGMD web portal (mgmd.gov.in) seeks to cover all 6.5 lakh villages across the country.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, said the portal captures a wide range of cultural data, including oral traditions, festivals, food, attire, art forms, rituals, and local landmarks. The initiative also includes inputs from marginalized communities and lesser-known traditions.
In West Bengal, 5,917 of the state’s 41,116 villages have been mapped so far, with the rest currently under documentation. No financial assistance has been sanctioned for the programme on a state-wise basis, including for Tamil Nadu, the Minister added.
The Ministry said the data being collected would help in identifying and preserving traditional knowledge systems, art forms, and folk performances, with the broader goal of strengthening cultural identity and supporting rural development.
