Lok Sabha Question No. 1169 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-08
Subject: 'Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar' Programme
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Shri Rajesh Naranbhai Chudasama, Shri Shashank Mani, Shri Hasmukhbhai Somabhai Patel, Shri Miteshbhai Rameshbhai Patel, Shri Avimanyu Sethi, Shri Mahesh Kashyap, Shri Sunil Kumar, Shri Darshan Singh Choudhary, Smt. Anita Subhadarshini

- (a) Yes sir.
- (b) Yes Sir, details of all 1237 Villages of the West Champaran district of Bihar have been mapped and uploaded on the MGMD Portal.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1169

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2025

## 'MERA GAON MERI DHAROHAR' PROGRAMME

## 1169. SHRI SHASHANK MANI:

SMT. ANITA SUBHADARSHINI:

SHRI RAJESH NARANBHAI CHUDASAMA:

SHRI SUNIL KUMAR:

SHRI MAHESH KASHYAP:

SHRI AVIMANYU SETHI:

SHRI HASMUKHBHAI SOMABHAI PATEL:

SHRI MITESH PATEL BAKABHAI:

SHRI DARSHAN SINGH CHOUDHARY:

## Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  implementing  "Mera  Gaon  Meri  Dharohar" (MGMD) programme across the nation;
- (b) if  so,  whether  this  scheme  has  been  launched in West Champaran district of Bihar in view of many cultural heritage which requires uploading on MGMD portal;
- (c) the total number of villages targeted for cultural mapping across the country under  the  'Mera  Gaon  Meri  Dharohar'  (MGMD)  Programme  and  the  number  of villages for which data has been uploaded on the MGMD web portal so far;
- (d) the  types  of  cultural  elements  and  heritage  components  being  documented under the initiative;
- (e) the  details  in  which  this  programme  is  expected  to  strengthen  rural  identity, promote community participation and support local economic development; and
- (f) whether the  Government  proposes  to  take  up  cultural  mapping  of  additional villages in Odisha, particularly in Bhadrak and Balasore districts, and if so, the details of progress made and the expected timeline for completion?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(c) Under the Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar (MGMD) Programme, 6,38,365 villages have been identified for cultural mapping across the country. Out of these, details of 6,23,449 villages have been uploaded on the MGMD Portal so far. (d) As  part  of  its  documentation  activities,  MGMD,  covers  a  wide  range  of cultural  elements,  both  tangible  and  intangible,  including  oral  traditions,  beliefs, customs, historical significance, art forms, heritage sites, traditional food, prominent artists, fairs and festivals, traditional dress, ornaments and local landmarks. (e) The MGMD Programme leads to strengthening of rural identity by  creating authentic, village-level cultural  profiles that recognise local traditions, practices and heritage  assets.  It  promotes  community  participation  by  enabling  community-led documentation  and crowd-sourced  validation through  the  MGMD  Portal.  The availability of structured cultural data on a single national portal supports planning for cultural cluster development, heritage tourism and the promotion of traditional skills, thereby contributing to sustainable livelihood generation and rural economic development. (f) Under  the  MGMD  Programme,  the  Ministry  of  Culture  has  undertaken cultural  mapping  of  villages  in  Odisha,  under  which  47,209  villages  have  been mapped so far. Details of all 998 villages of Bhadrak district have been mapped and uploaded  on  the  MGMD  Portal.  Similarly,  details  of  all  2,798  villages  of  Balasore district have been mapped and uploaded on the MGMD portal.

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