Geography Class 12: Urbanisation and Classification of towns

The term “engines of inclusive economic growth” have been coined to describe urban regions. 84 crore Indians reside in rural areas, whereas 37.7 crores dwell in large cities, accounting for around 31 per cent of the population. The 2011 Indian census defines urban habitation as:

Every location which has a municipality corporation, cantonment board, or notified town area committee.

All additional locations that meet the following criteria:

1. A populace of at least 5000 people;
2. Non-agricultural pursuits by at least 75% of the male primary working population; and
3. A population density of at least 400 people per square kilometers

Statutory towns are the first category of urban units. Regardless of demographic features, these towns are notified by law by the corresponding State/UT government and have city councils such as municipal corporations, municipalities, etc. example: Rajkot, Shimla, Vadodara etc.

The second type of town is referred to as a Census Town. These were discovered using census data from 2001. Cities are defined as areas with several more than 100,000 people. In India, towns are defined as areas with a population of fewer than 100,000 people.

Urbanisation Is Both Inevitable and Desirable:

The first municipal corporation in India was established at Madras in 1687-88. Municipal Corporations were established in Bombay and Calcutta in 1726. In 1882, a resolution was passed mandating the formation of panchayats at the village level and district councils, taluq councils, and municipalities. Lord Ripon was the Viceroy of India at the time, and he is regarded as the father of Indian local self-government.

Since independence, urbanisation has been centred on the following five-year plans:

The first two plans concentrated on establishing institutions and organisations, and the states were encouraged to do so too.

Reasons for urbanisation in India:

1. Industrialisation:

One of the principal drivers of urbanisation is industrialisation. Individuals from backward districts have moved to metropolitan areas looking for better work possibilities.

2. Social Reasons:

Many social aspects, like metropolitan areas’ attractions, better living, more fundamental freedoms, and the desire for individualistic pursuits, urge people to move to cities.

3. Business Opportunities:

In the rural area, people depend largely upon agriculture for survival. Agriculture is dependent on rain for harvest in India. People want to join a different profession and move to cities for new opportunities.

4. Modernisation:

Large highways, access to communication, better health conditions attract people from the rural areas towards cities. People know that they can live a better life in the city compared to their villages.

Classification of towns:

The Indian Census divides metropolitan areas into three categories. A city or class I town like Ranchi, Indore etc is defined as a population centre having a population of more than one lakh people. Metropolitan cities have populations of one to five million people, whereas megacities have populations of more than five million. Urban agglomerations make up the majority of metropolitan and megacities.

 People are migrating to cities more than ever. The rural areas are also developing rapidly and transforming into towns.

Individuals in small-town and rural areas also want to lead a life compared to those living in cities. They expect better roads for transportation, better access to health care facilities, education etc.

Other than these, a few additional developments have occurred because of urbanisation:

• Changes in ancient towns and food preferences
• Utilisation of development
• Women are joining the workforce
• Modern procedures for transportation and communication. Phones, for instance, have become common everywhere
• Focus on education 
• Development of Institutions like banks, mail centres, etc

• Consumer awareness in rural areas. 

Hence, basic changes in the way of life of town individuals might be observed. Indian towns have ingested the urban culture and ways of life. It is moreover a sad reality that not all towns in India have got the honours of modernisation.

The Impacts of urbanisation in India:

Fundamental changes for ancient towns have occurred because of the unprecedented speed of urbanisation.

Some of the effects of urbanisation:

Positive Impact:

• An improvement in one’s degree of living
• Opportunities for work in metropolitan regions
• Transportation and communication accessibility

When urbanisation is restricted to an acceptable level, it is suitable for everyone. Uncontrolled Migration of people from rural areas to cities have many negative impacts.

Negative outcome:

• Overpopulation Issue:

The massive population is an enormous issue in metropolitan areas. It has incited lower personal satisfaction, the increment of slums, etc.

• Joint Family Disintegration:

It is challenging to keep a joint family because of the unprecedented ordinary expense for essential things in the metropolitan areas. Individuals Prefer nuclear families.

• increased cost for essential items:

The huge average cost is the fundamental issue of interest in metropolitan areas. Places like Mumbai and Bengaluru are costly, and people have to work hard to sustain themselves the

• Growing Crime Rates: 

Urban regions are notable for having an alarming rate of criminal activities. In the metropolitan areas, theft, dacoity, murder, deluding, pickpocketing, assault, and other illegal activities are widespread.

• Unsurprising Relations: Impersonal relations depict metropolitan centre interests. In urban areas, the possibility of privacy and peaceful life is non-existent. Life in the city is incredibly challenging, and people might have mental health issues along these lines. Individuals are selfish and uninterested towards people.

• Pollution:

Pollution is a massive issue in industrialised metropolitan areas. The main factor behind the pollution is the large number of vehicles for transportation.

• Stress:

Stress is a part of city living, affecting family relationships.

Planning in urbanisation :

Planning is primarily centralised, and state planning boards and commissions have yet to issue specific planning strategies, relying instead on the Planning Commission. This is expected to change under the current administration. As the planning commission has been eliminated, and the emphasis is now on improving the federal system and strengthening the states.

In fact, for large cities, the plans have grown outmoded and do not represent the concerns of local urban residents; this is something that the Metropolitan Planning Committee must address in accordance with the 74th Amendment Act’s regulations. To meet the requirements of city people, decentralised and inclusive planning is now required.There is also a scarcity of human resources for large-scale planning. State planning bureaus and national planning bodies are in desperate need of qualified planners. Land use, infrastructure, ecological sustainability, social integration, risk mitigation, economic output, and economic diversification are all areas where planners should expand their reach from physical to integrated planning.

Conclusion

As a result, we can conclude that urbanisation is increasing in India daily, with full support for possibilities and a high standard of living. However, as urbanisation accelerates, it creates obstacles to balanced, fair, and inclusive growth. People learn about each other’s cultures and share knowledge, which helps break down the boundaries that previously existed between people. In reality, societal structures are dispersing, such as family structures transitioning from joint to nuclear.