In News:

The Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar (MGMD) initiative is a nationwide cultural mapping project launched by the Ministry of Culture on 27th July 2023 as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. It operates under the National Mission on Cultural Mapping (NMCM) and is implemented by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA).

Key Highlights:

• Objective: To digitally document and preserve the intangible cultural heritage of all 6.5 lakh villages across India through a comprehensive virtual cultural portfolio.
• Current Status (as of 2025):

• Over 4.7 lakh villages have been culturally mapped.
• The data is accessible on the MGMD web portal.

• Thematic Categories: Each village is documented based on one or more of seven cultural themes:

1. Arts and Crafts Villages
2. Ecologically Oriented Villages
3. Scholastic Villages (linked to texts and scriptural traditions)
4. Epic Villages (associated with Ramayana, Mahabharata, Puranas, and oral epics)
5. Historical Villages (linked to local or national history)
6. Architectural Heritage Villages
7. Other culturally significant villages (e.g., fishing, horticulture, pastoral communities)

Significance:

• Preservation of Heritage: Helps safeguard India’s diverse village-level traditions and practices.
• Cultural Inclusion: Recognizes lesser-known cultural narratives and identities.
• Rural Development: Encourages economic and artistic growth through cultural awareness.
• Digital Cultural Infrastructure: Enables access to cultural data via online platforms.

About National Mission on Cultural Mapping (NMCM)

Launched in 2017, the NMCM is a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Culture aimed at documenting and promoting India’s cultural diversity with a focus on grassroots-level heritage.

Key Components:

• Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar (MGMD) – Mapping of village-level cultural assets.
• Sanskritik Pratibha Khoj – Campaigns to discover artistic talent and promote folk and tribal arts.
• National Cultural Workplace (NCWP) – A digital platform and mobile app to create databases of artists, art forms, and cultural services.

This initiative strengthens India’s commitment to heritage conservation, digital documentation, and self-reliant cultural development, in line with Atmanirbhar Bharat.