**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 131, regarding the National Mission on Cultural Mapping (NMCM) in Maharashtra and Rajasthan. It outlines the progress of village-level cultural mapping, the details of registered artists and cultural institutions, and measures to include rural and tribal artists in the mapping exercise. The response was provided by the Minister of Culture and Tourism on February 9, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **National Mission on Cultural Mapping (NMCM) Status:**
* The Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar (MGMD) Portal is being used for village-level cultural mapping.
* Across India, 6.23 lakh villages have been covered.
* In Maharashtra, 40042 villages have been covered.
* In Rajasthan, 46696 villages have been covered.
* **Data Documentation:**
* Data on the MGMD Portal is maintained village-wise.
* Details of artists, folk art groups, and cultural institutions are documented as part of village profiles (See Annexure II).
* **Digital Mapping of Cultural Resources:**
* The MGMD Portal documents cultural resources at the village level, including heritage sites, oral traditions, beliefs, customs, historical significance, local landmarks, and art forms.
* In Maharashtra, 40042 of 42757 targeted villages have been mapped.
* In Rajasthan, 46696 of 46744 targeted villages have been mapped.
* **Ongoing Mapping Efforts:**
* The mapping of the remaining 2715 villages in Maharashtra and 48 villages in Rajasthan is underway.
* **Inclusion of Rural and Tribal Artists:**
* The MGMD Portal functions as a digital cultural repository.
* It covers a wide range of cultural elements, including local artists and art forms.
* Several tribal communities documented include:
* Maharashtra: Kunbi, Warli, Thakar, Gond, Koli, Malhar Koli, Mahadev Koli, Bhil, Kokna, Pawra, Kolam, Pardhan, Korku, Aandh and Katkari.
* Rajasthan: Bhil, Kalbeliya, Garasia, Sahariya, Kamad and Meena.
* Details of rural and tribal artists are in Annexure-III.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: The Government (Ministry of Culture and Tourism)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for the progress and execution of the NMCM project and the MGMD Portal.
* **Action Required:** Continue the cultural mapping of remaining villages, maintain and update the MGMD Portal, and ensure the inclusion of diverse art forms and artists.
**Stakeholder: Artists, Folk Art Groups, and Cultural Institutions (Maharashtra and Rajasthan)**
* **Impact:** Their work and cultural heritage are being documented and preserved through the NMCM and the MGMD Portal, potentially providing wider recognition and support.
* **Action Required:** Engage with the mapping process, provide information and documentation to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to ensure accurate representation on the MGMD Portal.
**Stakeholder: Rural and Tribal Communities (Maharashtra and Rajasthan)**
* **Impact:** The NMCM's efforts to map their cultural heritage and include their artists helps preserve and promote their unique traditions and art forms, contributing to cultural identity and potential economic opportunities.
* **Action Required:** Participate in the mapping exercise by sharing information about their cultural practices, traditions, and artists with the relevant authorities.
**Stakeholder: General Public**
* **Impact:** May gain access to a comprehensive digital repository of Indian cultural heritage, fostering awareness and appreciation for diverse traditions and art forms through the MGMD Portal.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the MGMD Portal to explore and learn about India's cultural heritage, contributing to the preservation and promotion of diverse traditions.
Key Entities Referenced
National Mission on Cultural Mapping (NMCM): A nationwide initiative to map and document cultural resources.
Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar (MGMD) Portal: A digital platform under the NMCM for village-level cultural mapping.
Ministry of Culture: The government ministry responsible for the NMCM.
Maharashtra: One of the primary states of focus, where village cultural mapping is underway.
Rajasthan: One of the primary states of focus, where village cultural mapping is underway.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION No. *131
TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026
NMCM IN MAHARASHTRA AND RAJASTHAN
*131 SHRI ARVIND GANPAT SAWANT:
SHRI OMPRAKASH BHUPALSINH ALIAS PAVAN RAJENIMBALKAR:
Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:
(a) the present status of the National Mission on Cultural Mapping (NMCM) across the
country, State/UT-wise including Maharashtra and Rajasthan;
(b) the details of the artists, folk art groups and cultural institutions from the said States
that have been registered under the said Mission so far;
(c) whether the digital mapping of cultural resources in all districts of the said States has
been completed by the Government;
(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons for the delay along with the stipulated
timeline for its completion; and
(e) the details of the special measures taken/being taken under this mapping exercise to
ensure the inclusion of rural and tribal artists?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM
(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) to (e) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (E) OF LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NUMBER 131 FOR REPLY ON 09.02.2026 REGARDING
NMCM IN MAHARASHTRA AND RAJASTHAN ASKED BY SHRI ARVIND GANPAT
SAWANT AND SHRI OMPRAKASH BHUPALSINH ALIAS PAVAN
RAJENIMBALKAR:
(a) The Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar (MGMD) Portal under the National Mission on Cultural
Mapping (NMCM) undertakes village-level cultural mapping across the country. Currently, 6.23
lakh villages have been covered. The State/UT-wise distribution of covered villages is placed at
Annexure-I. In Maharashtra, 40042 villages have been covered, while 46696 villages have been
covered in Rajasthan.
(b) Data on the MGMD Portal is maintained village-wise and not as per individual cultural
elements for all States and UTs, including Maharashtra and Rajasthan. However, details of
certain artists, folk art groups and cultural institutions documented as part of village cultural
profiles are placed at Annexure-II.
(c) The MGMD Portal documents cultural resources at the village level across India, including
Maharashtra and Rajasthan, in a structured format covering heritage sites, oral traditions, beliefs
and customs, historical significance, local landmarks and art forms, among others. In
Maharashtra, 40042 villages out of the targeted 42757 villages have been mapped on the
MGMD Portal so far. In Rajasthan, 46696 villages out of the targeted 46744 villages have been
mapped on the MGMD Portal so far.
(d) The NMCM envisages the cultural mapping of villages across the country. The mapping of
the remaining 2715 villages in Maharashtra and 48 villages in Rajasthan is being undertaken.
(e) MGMD Portal has been developed as a digital cultural repository under NMCM. As part of
its documentation activities, MGMD covers a wide range of cultural elements at the village level
across India, including heritage sites, oral traditions, beliefs and customs, historical significance,
local landmarks, fairs and festivals, traditional dress, ornaments, traditional food, as well as local
artists and art forms, wherever available. Data on MGMD is maintained village-wise and not as
per individual elements. However, certain tribal communities documented in Maharashtra
include Kunbi, Warli, Thakar, Gond, Koli, Malhar Koli, Mahadev Koli, Bhil, Kokna, Pawra,
Kolam, Pardhan, Korku, Aandh and Katkari. Similarly, certain tribal communities mapped in
Rajasthan include Bhil, Kalbeliya, Garasia, Sahariya, Kamad and Meena. Details of some
notable rural and tribal artists documented for Maharashtra and Rajasthan are placed at
Annexure-III.
*********ANNEXURE – I
Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 131 asked on
09th February, 2026 regarding ‘NMCM in Maharashtra and Rajasthan'
State/UT-wise Distribution of Number of Villages Uploaded on MGMD
State/UT Number of Uploaded Villages
Andaman and Nicobar Islands 176
Andhra Pradesh 17142
Arunachal Pradesh 4613
Assam 26074
Bihar 39563
Chandigarh 12
Chhattisgarh 19571
Delhi 252
Goa 431
Gujarat 19271
Haryana 7579
Himachal Pradesh 18735
Jammu & Kashmir 6926
Jharkhand 29908
Karnataka 29569
Kerala 1275
Ladakh 238
Lakshadweep Islands 13
Madhya Pradesh 56429
Maharashtra 40042
Manipur 306
Meghalaya 7012
Mizoram 1026
Nagaland 1498
Odisha 47209
Puducherry 127
Punjab 12084
Rajasthan 46696
Sikkim 464
Tamil Nadu 19219
Telangana 9824
The Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu 107
Tripura 899
Uttar Pradesh 103003
Uttarakhand 15727
West Bengal 40429ANNEXURE – II
Annexure referred to in reply to part (b) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 131 asked
on 09th February, 2026 regarding ‘NMCM in Maharashtra and Rajasthan'
Some Folk Artists and their respective Art Forms documented from Maharashtra on MGMD
S.No. Artist (Shri/Smt/Ms) Art Form
1. Parshuram Atmaram Gangavane Chitrakathi
2. Jivya Soma Mashe Warli Painting
3. Kishore Sadashiv Mhase Warli Painting
4. Rajesh Vangad Warli Painting
5. Krishnarao Ganpatrao Sable Folk Theatre
6. Ganpat Bujad Tarpa Nritya
7. Prahlad Shinde Folk & Devotional Singer
8. Tukaram Belkar Ghor Nritya
9. Patthe Bapurao Tamasha Performer & Poet
10. Kusum Kharpade Warli Art
11. Rekha Kharpade Warli Art
Some Folk Art Groups and their respective Art Forms documented from Maharashtra on
MGMD
S.No. Folk Art Group Art Form
1. Anand Natya Mandal Tamasha
2. Mashe Warli Artists Warli Painting
3. Vadeya Brothers Warli Painting
4. Artists of Kolitmara Gond Painting
5. Shiv Malhar Jagran Gondhal Party Gondhal performance
6. Anil Bhimrao Kolekar Dhangari Gaja tribal dance
Some Cultural Institutions documented from Maharashtra on MGMD
S.No. Cultural Institution Theme
1. Thakar Adivasi Kala Aangan Museum Thakar Tribe Heritage
2. Adivasi Sanskritik Bhavan Tribal heritage preservationSome Folk Artists and their respective Art Forms documented from Rajasthan on MGMD
S.No. Artist(Shri/Smt/Ms) Art Form
1. Mandshilp - Terracota Relief
Mohan Lal Chatubhuj Kumhar Art
2. Mandshilp - Terracota Relief
Khemraj Kumhar
Art
3. Mandshilp - Terracota Relief
Rajendra Kumhar Art
4. Mandshilp - Terracota Relief
Himmat Lal Kumhar Art
5. Mandshilp - Terracota Relief
Jamna Lal Kumhar Art
6. Mandshilp - Terracota Relief
Prem Shankar Kumhar Art
7. Govardhan Nath Kalbeliya Dance
8. Jaman Lal Bhand Bakya Player
9. Nukkad Natak and Puppet
Ram Niwash Bairwa shows
10.
Satya Narayan Suthar Kawad Art
11. Dwarka Prasad Jagir Kawad Art
S.No. Folk Art Group Art Form
1. Sarda Kalbeliya and Group Kalbeliya dance
2 Sarangiya Langas of Barmer Sarangi players
3. Rajki Sapera troupe Kalbeliya Dance, Chari Dance, Ghoomar
Dance, and Gramin Bhavai Dance.
4. Babulal Bhat and Group Rajasthani Mand folk songs
5. Punma Ram and Padma Ram Paava players (folk instrument)
Some Cultural Institutions documented from Rajasthan on MGMD
S.No. Cultural Institution Theme
1. Mohan Terracotta Art Research and
Mandshilp - Terracota Relief Art
Development Centre
2. Handloom, Leather Work, Wood Carving,
Barefoot College Social Work and Puppet Shows, Nukkad Natak, Bakya Wind
Research Centre Instrument
3. Hantheli Sansthan Traditional and folk craft.
4. Rupayan Sansthan Folklore Preservation
5. Arna Jharna Desert MuseumANNEXURE – III
Annexure referred to in reply to part (e) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 131 asked on
09th February, 2026 regarding ‘NMCM in Maharashtra and Rajasthan'
Some Tribal Artists and their respective Art Forms documented from Maharashtra on MGMD
S.No. Tribal Artist(Shri/Smt/Ms) Tribal Art Form
1. Parshuram Atmaram Gangavane Chitrakathi storytelling with visual art,
puppetry (Kalsutri Bahulya), and leather
shadow puppetry
2. Paper Mache
Sudam Kashiram Ghoye
3. Warli Painting
Jivya Soma Mashe
4. Warli Painting
Dilip Rama Bahota
5. Vansha Jaanu Bhujad Bamboo Artisan
6. Suresh Chandra Pungati Dhokra (Lost-Wax Metal Casting)
7. Rajesh Vangad Warli Painting
8. Kanchan Surti Bamboo Craft
9. Mukunda Padvi Warli Pavri dance
10. Bhiklya Ladakya Dhinda Tarpa player
Some Tribal Artists and their respective Art Forms documented from Rajasthan on MGMD
S.No. Tribal Artist(Shri/Smt/Ms) Tribal Art Form
1. Gulabo Sapera Kalbeliya Dance
2. Vidya Devi Soni Mandana Art
3. Yashpal Baranda Bhil Painting
4. Mohanlal Kumhar Molela Terracotta
5. Mangilal Bhil Peacock Feather Art