Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar Scheme

A total of approximately 6.5 lakh villages across India have been identified, out of which data for around 4.7 lakh villages have been uploaded on the MGMD portal. In the state of Tamil Nadu, data for 14,251 out of 19,219 villages have been mapped and uploaded. State-wise and district-wise details for Tamil Nadu are provided in Annexure-I and Annexure-II, respectively.

The MGMD Programme, through its comprehensive portal, takes into account the unique linguistic, cultural and heritage practices of each village, including temple architecture, folk arts and classical traditions. This includes the distinct traditions of Tamil Nadu such as Siddha medicine and local art forms.

A crowdsourcing option is available on the MGMD Portal, enabling local communities to actively participate in the documentation and preservation of cultural heritage., Villagers are encouraged to submit and validate cultural information related to their own villages.

However, no economic or skill development benefit have been extended to the villagers under this initiative.

The Government of India is taking steps to promote heritage villages across the country through cultural tourism, digital platforms, and educational initiatives. These include encouraging participation in cultural events, showcasing traditional art forms, and creating awareness through digital and educational outreach. However, there is no specific initiative exclusively for the villages of Tamil Nadu.

This information was given by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

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Sunil Kumar Tiwari

pibculture[at]gmail[dot]com

ANNEXURE-I

Village Data Uploaded: State-wise

ANNEXURE-II

District-wise Number of Villages Mapped and Uploaded on MGMD Portal – Tamil Nadu