The National Mission on Cultural Mapping (NMCM), operating under the Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar (MGMD) initiative, conducts village-level cultural mapping across India to document cultural information about artists, artisans, and cultural practitioners. However, the mission explicitly does not provide for registration of artists or cultural practitioners, and consequently offers no financial assistance, insurance, or social security support to documented individuals.
The data on the MGMD Portal is maintained exclusively at the village level rather than category-wise, meaning state-wise data on registered artists, artisans, and cultural practitioners is not compiled or maintained. The primary objective remains documentation of village-level cultural heritage rather than integration with other initiatives, as there is currently no provision for connecting the cultural mapping database with tourism, education, or skill development programs.
Annexure-I provides an illustrative list of 15 artists, artisans, and cultural practitioners documented under MGMD, representing diverse art forms across multiple states including Goa (Zagor Folk Theatre, Fugdi/Dhalo), Rajasthan (Bakya Player, Kawad Art, Paava players), Karnataka (Yakshagana, Jenu Kuruba Folk Music), West Bengal (Baul Singer, Taarer Putul), Telangana (Oggu Dolu/Oggu Katha), Uttar Pradesh (Pakhawaj player, Kol music), Kerala (Chenda, Gadhika), and Madhya Pradesh (Gond art).
Annexure-II presents an illustrative list of 15 cultural institutions and folk art groups documented under MGMD, including West Bengal (Taarer Putul Nach, Chhau Dance group, traditional handicraft cooperative), Arunachal Pradesh (Ponung Dance group, Nyokum Dance ensemble), Rajasthan (Kalbeliya Dance troupe, traditional craft institutions, folklore preservation organization), Gujarat (tribal art promotion center), Karnataka (theatre and cultural education institution), Uttar Pradesh (folk music group, Bidesia folk theatre), and Maharashtra (Warli Painting artists, Gondhal performance group, tribal heritage preservation center).
This information was formally provided by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply to the Lok Sabha on July 20, 2026.