URBANISATION IN INDIA

Introduction:-Definition of Urbanization varies from person to person and region to region, however, the true essence of urbanization is the rapid growth of population in the urban areas and economic activities which bring about more development of towns. Migration from rural to urban areas is an important factor for urbanization.

The decadal growth rate of the urban population is 27.43% for the decade 2001-2011. In India, the percentage of the urban population in the total population in Census 2011 is 31.16 which increased by 3.35% from 27.81% (Census 2001). Urbanization is a form of social transformation from traditional rural societies to modern, industrial and urban communities. It is a long-term continuous process. 

In the census of India, 2001 two types of town were identified:-

Statutory towns:-

All places with municipality, corporation, cantonment board or notified town area committee declared by state law.

Census towns:-

1. Places that satisfy the following criteria 

(a) A minimum population of 5000

(b)At least 75% of the male working population engaged in non-agricultural activities

(c) A density of population of at least 400 persons per square kilometer

Indian society is in a stage of massive urban transition. India’s urban population is the second-largest in the world, after China, both natural increase and rural-urban migration have contributed towards the urban growth in India. The component of urban growth has been attributed to mainly three components and the largest contributor is natural growth followed by demographic momentum, net migration. India has been predominantly rural in character throughout the ages. Though a few urban centers have flourished from time to time. It was only in the late nineteenth & the early twentieth centuries that industrial cities grew in India.

The urban population of India has increased from 25.8 million in 1901 to 62.4 million in 1951 and 285.4 million in 2001

Urbanization:-

Urbanization is an integral part of economic development, as the economy develops, there is an increase in the per capita income. Urbanization is a progressive concentration of population in the urban unit [Davis 1965]. According to Encyclopaedia of Social Sciences: "Urbanisation is characterized by the movement of people from small communities concerned chiefly or solely with agriculture to other communities generally larger, whose activities are trade, manufacture or allied interests

Characteristics:-

(A)The level of urbanization is regarded as an index of economic development. The two processes bear of high positive correlation.

(B)Urbanization is related to the level of economic development measured by per capita income.

(C)When per capita income increases, urbanization is also increasing. 

Components of urban growth

There are four main components of urban growth, namely:-

1. Natural increase

2. Net migration to urban areas

3. Reclassification of settlements as towns or its declassification as a result of changes like economic activities and acquisition of urban characteristics

4. The extension of boundaries of cities and towns

Causes of urbanization in India: The main causes of urbanization in India are:-

1. Migration of people from rural to urban areas

2. The Industrial Revolution

3. Eleventh five-year plan which aimed at urbanization for the economic development of India

4. Employment opportunities are very important reasons for people moving towards cities

5. Infrastructure facilities in the urban areas.

6. Growth of private sector after 1990.

Trends of urbanization in India

Total population and urban population from 1901 - 2011

Urbanization brings several challenges such as rapid population growth in urban settlements, which is the biggest challenge nowadays.

(1) Deterioration of the quality of urban life.

(2)Results of inefficient and faulty management of cities, rather than population growth. These problems are visible in most cities in India.