Emphasising the importance of digitally preserving India’s village heritage, Vivek Agarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, highlighted the need for systematic documentation of rural traditions while inaugurating a Capacity-Building Programme (Level–I) under the National Mission on Cultural Mapping (NMCM) at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi. The programme forms part of a nationwide series aligned with the All-India Gram Sabhas scheduled for January 26, 2026.
Strengthening Cultural Mapping through NMCM
Organised under the NMCM—implemented by IGNCA—the one-day programme aims to strengthen the documentation of India’s tangible and intangible cultural heritage through the flagship initiative “Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar (MGMD)”. The initiative also seeks to unlock opportunities for heritage-led rural economic revitalisation, positioning cultural assets as drivers of local engagement and livelihoods.
Five-Point Framework for Enriching the MGMD Portal
Addressing participants, Shri Vivek Agarwal described the initiative as a decisive step towards ensuring a robust digital presence for India’s villages. He outlined a five-point framework to enrich the MGMD portal:
-
Developing a comprehensive understanding of the portal
-
Assessing categories and identifying limitations
-
Applying corrective measures through the ‘Contribute’ tab
-
Collecting data using Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) methods
-
Systematically enriching and validating portal content
Referring to the approach as “heritage in PRA”, he urged cross-departmental collaboration to ensure accuracy, inclusivity and scale. His address concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session.
Role of Panchayati Raj Institutions
The inaugural session was attended by Rajesh Kumar Singh, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, as Guest of Honour. He underlined the pivotal role of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in cultural mapping, citing their deep grassroots reach and operational experience. He emphasised timely implementation, continuous monitoring and sustained field-level guidance to ensure comprehensive coverage and meaningful outcomes.
Preserving Village Identity in a Rapidly Urbanising World
Delivering the welcome address, Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary, IGNCA, stressed the urgency of preserving the original character and spirit of villages amid rapid urbanisation. Aligning the initiative with the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of Viksit Bharat, he highlighted the importance of documenting both tangible and intangible heritage on the MGMD portal and noted that restoring village identities is central to the broader goal of cultural decolonisation.
Inspiration from Lived Experience
The concluding session was graced by Vivek Bhardwaj, Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, as Chief Guest, with Sushil Kumar Lohani as Guest of Honour. Reflecting on his childhood memories of village life, Shri Bhardwaj drew attention to the gradual erosion of intangible cultural traditions over time, urging trainers and field teams to pursue documentation with renewed commitment and sensitivity.
Conclusion
The Capacity-Building Programme under NMCM reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to heritage-led, people-centric development. By equipping grassroots stakeholders with digital tools, participatory methods and institutional support, the initiative aims to create a living, evolving record of India’s village heritage—preserving cultural memory while catalysing rural renewal.
For more real-time updates, visit Channel 6 Network.
Source: PIB
