Sankalp Scheme I Govt. of India
Upskilling folk artists
for a digital world.
Equipping 4,050 folk artists and rural content creators across Rajasthan with the tools to tell their own stories — and reach a global audience.
9 districts across Rajasthan
Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Govt. of India
Media & Entertainment Skill Council (MESC)
The Vision
The barriers are digital. And they can be dismantled.
Rajasthan's rich tapestry of folk music, dance, and oral traditions has sustained communities for centuries — yet many of these artists remain invisible to the wider world, struggling to earn sustainable livelihoods from their craft.
This programme was born from a single conviction: that the barriers separating a Manganiyar singer in the Thar desert from a global audience are no longer geographical — they are digital, and they can be dismantled.
Under the Sankalp Scheme, the Malang Folk Foundation and MESC are working to equip 4,050 folk artists and rural content creators across nine Rajasthani districts with the tools they need to tell their own stories — and build financially resilient lives from their craft.
"The vision is not to replace the performance stage with a phone screen, but to ensure that every Bhopa storyteller, Kalbeliya dancer, and Langa ensemble can reach an audience far beyond the festival ground."
— Project Vision Statement, Folk Artist Upskilling Programme
A programme for artists, by artists.
The programme addresses the full arc of an artist's professional life — from drafting a tech rider before a performance, to enrolling in a government pension scheme, to exploring teaching and cultural-tourism as additional income streams.
Digital Empowerment
Building professional digital profiles, creating compelling content using just a smartphone, navigating social media platforms and monetisation pathways — putting artists in control of their own stories.
Livelihood & Rights
Understanding artist rights, copyright law, government welfare schemes, insurance and pension enrollment — building the economic foundations for a sustainable artistic life.
4,050
folk artists trained across Rajasthan
40 hrs
per candidate — 4 days training + assessment
~30%
artists linked to live performance platforms
9
districts across Rajasthan
Loss of awareness
Younger generations are often unaware of the architectural significance of structures they live beside.
Master plan erasure
Heritage concerns are absent from Bikaner's city master plan, leaving structures unprotected.
Inappropriate renovation
Cheap plastering and concrete cover-ups destroy the original sandstone craftsmanship.
Absent policy protection
No effective Heritage Properties Act exists — demolition of significant buildings continues.
Land speculation
Property interests actively encourage owners to sell historic buildings, accelerating demolition.
No economic incentive
Owners cannot generate income from heritage properties, treating conservation as a financial burden.
Training Curriculum — 7 Modules
A comprehensive 40-hour programme equipping folk artists with digital skills, legal knowledge, and livelihood tools.
Community Welfare
Government scheme enrollment life insurance health insurance pensions.
Legal Knowledge
Protecting original work copyright law rights in collaborative projects.
Social Media Marketing
Facebook Instagram YouTube account setup algorithms reels hashtags scheduling.
Heritage Mapping
Research-based documentation of Bikaner's cultural and architectural heritage.
Vocal Health
Maintaining vocal health teaching music homestay tourism guest lecturing.
Artist Management
Portfolio building event communication tech riders professional conduct.
Intangible Heritage
Preserving the musical heritage of Bikaner's Mir community through fellowships.
Heritage Walks
Guided walks through the old city connecting people with living architectural heritage.
Hiring & Consulting
Artist managers legal consultants festival identification.
Content Creation
Smartphone videography audio recording mobile editing apps showreel creation.
Advocacy & Policy
Engaging government bodies to integrate heritage into city master plans.
Phase 1 · 1,600 artists · District headquarters
Senior and group leader artists trained first — they become the trainer cadre for Phase 2. Bikaner 200 · Ajmer 200 · Jaisalmer 200 · Barmer 200 · Sikar 200 · Beawar 200 · Jodhpur 200 · Udaipur 100 · Jaipur 100
Phase 2 · 2,450 artists · Panchayat samiti level
Grassroots workshops across 35 panchayat samitis in batches of 50 artists. Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Ajmer, Sikar, Beawar, Jodhpur — 5 Panchayat Samitis per district, 350 artists each.
Partners
Choose how you would like to be part of this journey.
Your support enables both those who carry the knowledge and those who are ready to receive it.
♥
Sponsor an artist's training
Cover the Rs. 1,300 training cost for a folk artist — ensuring they complete the full programme and receive their certification.
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Platform partnership
Connect your platform or marketplace to our artist database — linking 4,050 trained folk artists to performance, content, and tourism opportunities.
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CSR & institutional partnership
Align your organisation with this government-backed cultural initiative. We offer co-branded impact reporting, field immersion, and documentation.
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Volunteer trainer or assessor
Bring skills in digital marketing, legal knowledge, content creation, or social media to train the next cohort of folk artists.
Every Bhopa storyteller, Kalbeliya dancer, and Langa ensemble carries centuries of knowledge. Our work is to ensure that knowledge reaches the world — on their own terms.
Malang Folk Foundation · Project Vision
