Parliament Question: National Mission on Cultural Mapping

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.121 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.07.2026 NATIONAL MISSION ON CULTURAL MAPPING 121. Shri Vishnu Dayal Ram: Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:- (a) the details of total number of artists, artisans and cultural practitioners registered under the National Mission on Cultural Mapping (NMCM), State/UT-wise; (b) the details of number of cultural clusters identified and documented under the said Mission; (c) whether any financial assistance, insurance or social security support has been extended to registered artists under the said Mission, and if so, the details thereof; and (d) the details of steps taken by the Government to integrate the Cultural Mapping database with tourism, education and skill development initiatives? ANSWER MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT) (a) The National Mission on Cultural Mapping (NMCM), through the Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar (MGMD) initiative, undertakes village-level cultural mapping across the country. Cultural information relating to artists, artisans and other cultural practitioners, wherever available, is documented as part of village cultural profiles. However, NMCM does not provide for registration of artists or cultural practitioners. The data on the MGMD Portal is maintained village-wise and not category-wise. Accordingly, State-wise data on registered artists, artisans and cultural practitioners is not maintained. An illustrative list of artists, artisans and cultural practitioners documented under MGMD is placed at Annexure-I. (b) Documentation under MGMD is undertaken at the village level and records cultural information in village profiles. Separate data on cultural clusters is not maintained under the Mission. However, an illustrative list of cultural institutions and folk art groups documented under MGMD is placed at Annexure-II. (c) NMCM undertakes documentation of cultural assets, including artists and cultural practitioners. The Mission does not provide for registration of artists. Accordingly, no financial assistance, insurance or social security support is provided under NMCM.(d) The primary objective of MGMD is documentation of village-level cultural heritage. At present, there is no provision under the Mission for integration of the cultural mapping database with tourism, education or skill development initiatives.ANNEXURE-I Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.121 asked on 20th July, 2026 regarding ‘National Mission on Cultural Mapping’. Some Artists, Artisans and Cultural Practitioners Mapped under MGMD S.No. Name of Artist/ Cultural Art form/ practice State/UT Practitioner 1. Tulsi Velingkar Zagor Folk Theatre Goa 2. Pandurang Faldesai Fugdi / Dhalo Goa 3. Jaman Lal Bhand Bakya Player Rajasthan 4. Satya Narayan Suthar Kawad Art Rajasthan 5. Punma Ram and Padma Ram Paava players (folk instrument) Rajasthan 6. Chittani Ramachandra Hegde Yakshagana (Badagutittu) Karnataka 7. Kariya Jenu Kuruba Folk Music Karnataka 8. Abdul Halim Baul Singer West Bengal 9. ThakurdasSaboni Putul Nach Taarer Putul West Bengal 10. Chowdarapally Ravi Kumar Oggu Dolu / Oggu Katha Telangana 11. Nathuni Paswan Pakhawaj player Uttar Pradesh 12. Bela Kol music Uttar Pradesh 13. PeruvanamKuttan Marar Chenda (Melam) Kerala 14. Karinkali Gopi Gadhika Kerala 15. Durga Bai Vyam Gond art Madhya PradeshANNEXURE – II Annexure referred to in reply to part (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 121 asked on 20th July, 2026 regarding ‘National Mission on Cultural Mapping’. Some Cultural Institutions and Folk Art Groups Mapped under MGMD S.No. Name of Artist/ Cultural Art form/ theme State/UT Practitioner 1. Thakur das Saboni Putul Taarer Putul West Bengal Nach 2. Sima Mahato Mahila Chhau Chhau Dance West Bengal Samity 3. Mahisbathan Gramin Traditional handicraft West Bengal HastashilpiSamabay Samity products like Gomira masks 4. Adi Cultural Group Ponung Dance Arunachal Pradesh 5. Nyishi Dance Ensemble Nyokum Dance Arunachal Pradesh 6. Kalbeliya Dance, Chari Rajasthan Rajki Sapera troupe Dance, Ghoomar Dance, and Gramin Bhavai Dance. 7. HantheliSansthan Traditional and folk Rajasthan craft 8. RupayanSansthan Folklore Preservation Rajasthan 9. Rathwa Art and Culture Tribal art promotion Gujarat Centre 10. Ninasam Theatre, Folk & Cultural Karnataka (NilakanteshwaraNatyaseva Education Sangha) 11. Hari Shankar Acharya and Folk music Uttar Pradesh Group 12. Ramprit Yadav and Group Bidesia (Folk theatre) Uttar Pradesh 13. Vadeya Brothers Warli Painting Maharashtra 14. Shiv Malhar Jagran Gondhal performance Maharashtra Gondhal Party 15. Adivasi Sanskritik Bhavan Tribal heritage Maharashtra preservation *****