The Ministry of Panchayati Raj organized a day-long brainstorming session on “Meri Parampara – Meri Virasat” in New Delhi, today. Shri Vivek Bharadwaj, Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj along with senior officials of the Ministry, Panchayat and Rural Development Department, Government of Chhattisgarh, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), academicians, scholars, cultural experts, panchayat representatives and leaders from tribal communities of Chhattisgarh participated in the session. The workshop was organized by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj in collaboration with IGNCA, Ministry of Culture and the Panchayat and Rural Development Department, Government of Chhattisgarh.
Addressing the session, Shri Vivek Bharadwaj underscored that traditions and customs define the identity of a community, and their loss erodes its distinct character. He noted that the initiative stands out for its community-centred approach, ensuring comprehensive coverage of all aspects of tribal heritage. Emphasising that heritage documented and preserved by communities themselves carries authenticity and enduring value, he called for collective efforts guided by a shared sense of purpose.
Smt. Niharika Barik Singh, Principal Secretary, Panchayat and Rural Development Department, Government of Chhattisgarh, presented the State’s implementation framework and expressed readiness to partner in the initiative, noting that the State’s rich tribal heritage and diverse cultural traditions provide a strong base for its effective rollout. Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary, IGNCA, said that documentation of tribal traditions done at the local level, by people who know and live these traditions, ensures authenticity and credibility. He added that digitising tribal traditions will help preserve living heritage, connect youth with their roots and strengthen community ownership of their cultural narrative.
A presentation was also made on the upgradation of the Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar (MGMD) portal under the National Mission on Cultural Mapping, highlighting it as a joint initiative of the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. Under this, the Gram Sabha has been adopted as the primary platform for village-level cultural documentation, with structured Gram Sabha meetings across Panchayats enabling systematic data collection and validation. The brainstorming session focused on two broad themes: Documentation and Digital Preservation of Tribal Cultural Heritage in Scheduled Areas of Chhattisgarh, and Finalisation of the Implementation Framework for execution of the project.
Discussions were organised around ten thematic areas: Knowledge Traditions (philosophy, oral traditions, healing practices); Visual and Material Arts (sculpture, textiles); Performing Arts (dance, music, puppetry); Practices and Rituals (festivals, cuisines, life-cycle rituals); Histories (places, movements, social change); Literature and Languages (authors, works, language histories); Built Spaces (places of worship, memorials, historic sites); Natural Environment (ecosystems, native species, national parks); Institutions (museums, universities, cultural centres); and People (artistes, scholars, practitioners).
Background
“Meri Parampara – Meri Virasat” has been conceptualized and supported by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. It is being executed in collaboration with State Governments and other stakeholders. The initiative aims at comprehensive documentation and digital preservation of the cultural heritage of tribal communities in Scheduled Areas, including their folk songs, festivals, worship practices, oral traditions, art forms, and customary governance systems. Chhattisgarh is the second State to take up this initiative. Envisioned and supported by MoPR, the campaign was first launched by the Department of Panchayati Raj, Government of Jharkhand, on 26th January 2025 under the theme “Hamari Parampara Hamari Virasat”, with the objective of preserving and passing on to future generations the cultural heritage integral to the traditional governance systems of Scheduled Tribe communities in Scheduled Areas. With 42 recognised Scheduled Tribes including Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), Chhattisgarh presents a rich and diverse canvas for this effort.
